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Report: Former Cowboys DE Aldon Smith Visiting with Seahawks in Free Agency
April 14, 2021
The Seattle Seahawks are reportedly holding a visit with free-agent pass-rusher Aldon Smith on Wednesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Smith, 31, spent last season with the Dallas Cowboys, starting all 16 games. He finished with 48 tackles, five sacks, two fumble recoveries, five tackles for loss, 14 quarterback hits and 50 pressures on the year.
It marked Smith's first game action since 2015, as he was out of the league for four seasons because of suspension.
Smith was one of the top pass-rushers in the NFL over his first three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, totaling 42 sacks and earning a Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro selection in 2012.
The former Mizzou standout was suspended for nine games in 2014 for violating the NFL's substance abuse and personal conduct policies, and he was ultimately released by the Niners following a DUI arrest.
Smith landed with the then-Oakland Raiders in 2015 and recorded 28 tackles and 3.5 sacks in nine games.
In November 2015, the NFL announced that Smith had been suspended for one year. He had previously been involved in a hit-and-run and breaking the league's substance-abuse policy. Subsequent reinstatement attempts were denied, and Smith was released by the Raiders in 2018 after he allegedly assaulted a woman in a domestic assault. He eventually agreed to a plea deal in the case.
Smith got reinstated and signed with the Cowboys last year, and he enjoyed a solid season considering how long he had been out of football.
The veteran ranked second on the Cowboys in sacks last season behind only DeMarcus Lawrence's 6.5, and he led the team in quarterback hits.
If Seattle signs Smith, he could provide an instant boost to a Seahawks defense that ranked a solid seventh in the NFL last season with 46 sacks.
The Seahawks' top pass-rusher was safety Jamal Adams, who led the team with 9.5 sacks. Aside from him, they took a by-committee approach with their front seven, as six defensive linemen or linebackers finished with between three and 6.5 sacks.
Adding a player with 52.5 sacks in 75 career games would make the Seattle defense even more dangerous and perhaps allow it to improve upon its 2020 ranking of 22nd in total defense and 15th in scoring defense.