NOLA Saints should stay away from Jaylon Smith

In a surprising move, linebacker Jaylon Smith was released by the Cowboys. While New Orleans Saints fans’ ears might have perked up upon hearing the news, this isn’t a move the black and gold should make.

First and foremost, we have to look at why Smith was released. A 26-year-old linebacker who has made it to one Pro Bowl doesn’t get released if he’s still at the top of his game so something’s got to give, right?

Smith’s role was certainly decreasing for the ‘Boys, as evidenced by his lack of starts this year. After starting every game over the past three years, Dallas suddenly used Smith in more of a rotational role. This hints that maybe his skill set isn’t what it used to be.

Secondly, the Saints are pretty well-set at the linebacker position, which is a sentence that most of us would have laughed at just a few months ago.

The linebackers played well in the preseason and gave the organization a difficult choice when it came to who to cut and who to keep. The group they kept was a decent one and we’ve seen them, for the most part, well play this season.

NOLA Saints don’t have much use for Jaylon Smith

With freak of nature Demario Davis, rookie Pete Werner playing well, and Kwon Alexander returning from injury in the coming weeks, New Orleans doesn’t really need to upgrade their linebacker corps. Smith might have been a good fit for this team a few years ago but with his declining play, adding him now doesn’t make much sense for this team.

If NOLA did decide to add Smith, however, it wouldn’t be the end of the world and maybe he could be utilized as more of a pass-rusher. The Saints’ pass-rush was non-existent in their loss to the Giants and Smith has nine sacks throughout his career. That’s probably not good enough to solely earn the role of an EDGE rusher, though.

Smith will get scooped up by someone, but it shouldn’t be the Saints.