Malcolm

Smith

Carolina was also reportedly in on the former Super Bowl MVP but he’ll instead stick in Cleveland after logging the most defensive snaps (559, 52%) he’s played since the 2016 season. 32 in July, Smith will remain a rotational linebacker off the bench in DC Joe Woods’ dime/three-safety scheme.

It looks like Oakland’s leading tackler will be playing for a new team in 2017. Smith was solid against the run last season but was dead-last among inside linebackers in PFF’s coverage grades. The Raiders will instead focus on re-signing Perry Riley, who played well after joining the team in October.

Smith sat out the first two days of practice before getting in a limited session Friday. With Ben Heeney landing on injured reserve with an ankle injury earlier this week, the Raiders are already thin at linebacker. Added on Tuesday, Perry Riley could be forced into a big role early.

Smith led Oakland in tackles last year but his production declined across the board. It sounds like the Raiders only want him back on a team-friendly deal. The Raiders view suspended OLB Aldon Smith as a potential weak-side replacement.

The Super Bowl 48 MVP was ineffective last season, playing just 286 snaps and getting phased out down the stretch. Even on the Raiders, he won’t be assured of a starting job, but should have the inside track at weak-side linebacker.

Dallas has been struggling with health at the linebacker position in recent weeks. Luke Gifford (arm) is done for the season and Leighton Vander Esch is dealing with a neck injury. Smith topped 100 combined tackles in 2016 with Oakland before failing to latch on with his next two teams, San Francisco and Jacksonville. The former Super Bowl MVP adds much-needed depth to the Cowboys’ linebacker unit as they chase the coveted NFC East title.

Smith was primarily a special-teamer in his two games with Jacksonville before being waived, logging 39 snaps as an alternate off the bench. With Luke Gifford (arm), Leighton Vander Esch (neck), Joe Thomas (knee), and Sean Lee (pec, thigh) banged up, the Cowboys are obviously in need of any help they can get in their front-seven.

Smith signed with the Jaguars prior to Week 8 and logged 39 special teams snaps while the team’s linebacking corps was in disarray the past two weeks. He’ll catch on as a reserve elsewhere.

The ex-Super Bowl MVP was released by the 49ers in training camp. The Jags are dealing with a rash of injuries at linebacker. 30-year-old Smith will probably only be on the 53-man roster for a few weeks.

Smith missed all of 2017 with a torn pectoral. He was lightly used for the 49ers’ terrible 2018 defense. 2019 is the former Super Bowl MVP’s age-30 season.