Packers Preston Smith “Aging Like Fine Wine” Heading into Year 10

Green Bay Packers pass rusher Preston Smith is in a peculiar spot heading into the 2024 season. Embarking on Year 10 of his NFL career, he is one of the players the team will be relying upon for leadership.

It is a role he has embraced in recent seasons but things are different this time. Heading into Year 10 of his NFL career, Preston Smith is the only player currently on the roster whose age doesn’t start with a 2.

As the only player in his 30s, no one would blame Preston Smith if he took some time off during the spring. Veterans pass on OTAs and minicamps regularly, but he was present at all of the offseason workouts, even the voluntary ones.

That has helped set the tone and something for the younger players to look up to. If the oldest player on the team is taking offseason workouts seriously, so should they. With only one missed game in his career, he certainly doesn’t feel his age.

“Of course being an older guy, they feel like you start to get fragile and it’s not like that,” Smith said before the team broke for a few weeks off ahead of training camp “I’m like fine wine. I’m getting better with age, as we can see, and I’m just happy to be here … I really be thinking I’m 29 and 28 sometimes. I feel like I’m aging backwards, but when y’all keep reminding me I’m in my 30s, I start to really feel old, but I feel good, personally.”

Preston Smith may not be the first name that comes up when discussing top pass rushers in the NFL, but he has been consistent with the Packers. He has recorded at least 8.0 sacks in three straight seasons and is never missing games.

He has been with the team for five seasons and is a cornerstone of their defense. Preston Smith is someone that the younger guys can lean on, as he is a wealth of knowledge.

Fellow pass rusher Rashan Gary spoke very highly of Smith during the mandatory minicamp a few weeks ago. Both are excited about what is to come, playing in the new system being installed by Jeff Hafley after three seasons under Joe Barry.

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