Andrew Buller-Russ
The Las Vegas Raiders continue making moves to try and spark a quick turnaround after a disappointing 3-5 start. First came the firing of coach Josh McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler. Then came the benching of Jimmy Garoppolo. Now comes the addition of Jaylon Smith, a former Pro Bowl linebacker who can hopefully help coach Antonio Pierce, who’s a former linebacker himself, turn around a defense that allows the 22nd-most points in the NFL.
Smith had been on the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad, which allowed other teams to sign the 28-year-old to their active roster. On Thursday, the Raiders did just that, adding the former second-round pick ahead of their Week 9 matchup against the New York Giants.
The Raiders are presumably signing Smith to a one-year contract, and if he gets into a game, he’ll play for his fourth team in the past three seasons. Smith is most known for spending parts of five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, including in 2019, when he made the Pro Bowl after recording 142 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. He was ranked 88th by his peers on the NFL’s Top 100 Players of 2020 list. Smith recorded 154 more tackles the next year but played just four more games in a Cowboys uniform in 2021, with additions like Micah Parsons and Keanu Neal leading to reduced playing time.
He then bounced around to the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants (Pierce’s former team), before landing with the Saints this past offseason.
Smith’s days of recording 100-plus tackles may be done, but the Raiders still believe he can help improve a defense that’s allowed the third-most rushing yards in the NFL through Week 8.
Related: 4 Las Vegas Raiders coaching candidates to replace Josh McDaniels
