NFL linebacker Aldon Smith, who was released by the San Francisco 49ers on Friday due to yet another arrest, is reportedly drawing interest from several teams including the New York Giants.
Giants in desperate need of a pass rusher, given JPP is out. Defense needs someone to really set the edge. Aldon Smith does precisely that.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 10, 2015
The Giants definitely have the immediate need for Smith’s talents given the fact that Jason Pierre-Paul’s return to the team remains undetermined. If the Giants were to strike a deal with the troubled linebacker, they would be taking on his baggage that includes past DUI arrests, a weapons charge and an arrest for a bomb threat at Los Angeles International Airport.
Smith missed five games in 2013 after he entered a drug rehabilitation program. He also served a nine-game suspension in 2014 for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. After this latest run-in with the law, there is a good chance more games are about to be added to his suspension collection.
On the positive side, Smith earned All-Pro honors in 2012 after racking up an impressive 19.5 sacks ad 50 tackles in his second season. Unfortunately, that honor is overshadowed by the 10.5 sacks and 39 tackles he registered the last two years combined, due to missing the above-mentioned games.
Based off this report, Smith may not be unemployed for long as some might have speculated.
Photo: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports