Report: Saints to Meet with LB Jaylon Smith

The Saints are hosting veteran Pro Bowl LB Jaylon Smith on Thursday, according to reports.

NFL Insider Jordan Schultz reports that the New Orleans Saints are meeting with free-agent LB Jaylon Smith on Thursday. Earlier in the week, the Saints met with LB Anthony Barr, but were unable to reach a contract agreement. 

Smith, 28, was a second-round choice of the Dallas Cowboys in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame. He played five years for the Cowboys, intercepting two passes and breaking up six others while recording nine sacks, 15 QB hits, 20 tackles for loss, and forcing or recovering 11 fumbles. His best season was in 2019, when 142 tackles (6 for loss), 2.5 sacks, and an interception to go along with nine passes broken up earned him a Pro Bowl bid. 

Early in 2021, the Cowboys released Smith. He played briefly for the Green Bay Packers before finishing that year with the New York Giants.

In 13 games with the Giants in 2022, Smith finished second on the team in tackles (88, three for loss), while recovering a fumble and recording one sack and four pressures. He also worked out with the Raiders last week. 

Nov 29, 2018; Dallas Cowboys middle linebacker Jaylon Smith (54) tackles New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41). Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Smith won the Butkus Award as a junior at Notre Dame in 2015 as the nation's top linebacker. He'd tear his ACL and LCL during the Fiesta Bowl that season. The injury forced him to miss all of his rookie season in 2016.

Despite the knee injury to start his NFL career, Smith continues to be a good athlete in the open field. At 6'2" and 245-Lbs., he's also a solid run defender with good power at the line of scrimmage.