Green Bay Packers: 3 Early breakout candidates for 2019 season

1. Preston Smith, EDGE

One of Green Bay’s numerous big free-agent signings on the defensive side of the ball was inking former Washington pass-rusher Preston Smith to a four-year, $52 million deal this offseason. Considering that the Packers also paid Za’Darius Smith handsomely in free agency and selected Rashan Gary in the first round, it’s clear that the organization wanted to address the outside linebacker spot in the 3-4 defense.

While in the nation’s capital, Smith proved that he can be a consistent contributor on defense throughout his time. Over four seasons and 64 games, he logged 24.5 career sacks and 29 tackles for loss, including eight sacks in both 2015 and 2017. Furthermore, Pro Football Focus noted in an offseason profile of the Green Bay signing that Smith is coming off the highest-graded season of his career.

Considering the money that the Packers gave Smith, it might be rightful to say that he is ineligible to have a breakout season because he’s already arrived. However, my stance is that the new addition to the Green Bay defense is going to emerge as a rising star with career numbers.

Given the talent that the Pack now have in the secondary and around Smith in the front seven as well, he’s going to be in arguably the best situation that he’s been a part of throughout his career to this point. Subsequently, he’s going to have more time to get to the quarterback and less attention being paid to him, which should ultimately lead to career-best production in year one in the land of the Cheese Heads.