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Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said on Tuesday that he expects striker Preston Smith to remain with the team next season.
“Preston played a lot of really good football for us, and we would certainly like to have it back next year. He’s under contract, so we certainly hope he comes back, ”said Gutekunst, through Ryan Wood of Green Bay Press-Gazette.
Smith has two years left on the four-year contract he signed with the Packers in 2019. However, the Packers have some salary cap issues to resolve and Smith seemed at least viable to be a potential victim of the cap. After posting 12 bags in his first year at Green Bay, Smith had only four last season for the Packers. However, this drop in bag production is not something that concerns Gutekunst.
“Although those numbers may have dropped, I think it has affected the football team in a very positive way,” said Gutekunst. “So I think there are some things between the numbers that his value doesn’t always show. He’s kind of been that way throughout his career. If you go back to Washington, your sack numbers have always been a little up and down, but the way it affected the game with its duration, not only as a defender, but also in the racing game. He is a very good player for us and he still has many good years ahead, for sure. “