Preston Smith: NFL Salary, Wife, Contract & More

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The NFL career bagged millions of dollars for American outside linebacker Preston Smith who currently plays for Green Bay Packers, a 4-time Super Bowl champion.

With a contract extension of 4 years, Smith continues his journey with the Packers through the 2026 season with jersey number #91. Previously, the Atlanta-born played for the Washington Redskins for four seasons after they selected him at the 2015 NFL draft.

Preston Smith, A Linebacker For Green Bay Packers Linebacker
Preston Smith, A Linebacker For Green Bay Packers Linebacker (Source: Instagram)

Born Preston Demarquis Smith, he is a graduate of Mississippi State University. Aside from being a promising NFL player, he is a loveable husband and doting father of two kids.

Want to know more about Preston? You will find all your answers about the NFL star in the article below.

Preston Smith | Quick Facts

Full Name Preston Demarquis Smith
Date of Birth November 17, 1992 
Birth Place Atlanta, Georgia
Nick Name Preston
Religion Christianity
Nationality American
Ethnicity Black
Zodiac Sign Scorpio
Age 31 Years Old
Height 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m)
Weight 120 kg (265 lbs)
Hair Color Black
Eye Color Dark Brown
Build Muscular
Father’s Name Not known
Mother’s Name Not known
Siblings Three
High School’s name Georgia’s Stephenson High School
College Name Mississippi State University
Marital Status Married
Wife Realyn Edwards
Children Two daughters
Chinese Zodiac Monkey
Profession NFL player
Position Outside Linebacker
Team Green Bay Packers
Active Years 2015-Present
NFL Draft 2015, Pick 38, Round 2nd
Salary $14 million
Net Worth $7 million
Social Media Instagram and Twitter
Merch Autographed NFL Helmet
Last Update March 2024

Preston Smith | Parents, Family Members & Early Life

Preston Demarquis Smith was born on November 17, 1992, in Atlanta, Georgia, and stayed there until his schooling. 

Regarding his early life, the Green Bay Packers player allows minimal access. But undoubtedly, it was quite harsh as he mentions that Smith and his siblings were raised by his single mother.

In a 2014 interview with HailStateBEAT, sharing the joyous moment of his first daughter’s birth, Smith said:

“I want to provide for my daughter what I didn’t have as a child. It’s one of those life things that my mom probably couldn’t afford because she was a single parent. I just want to provide her with everything she wants and spoil her. She can be my little princess and I’ll give her a kingdom wherever we may land.”

Further details on his parents remain low-key, but Preston Smith does share pictures of his mother on his Instagram.

Preston Smith And His Mother
Preston Smith And His Mother (Source: Instagram)

He is the second eldest of four; his older brother Brandon Smith is a father to a son. The NFL star wished Brandon on his birthday– it falls on November 29.

Smith’s younger brother is Seth Brown-Carter, while his younger sister is a graduate of Valdosta State University (class of 2017) who goes by Bella_Doona_hit on Instagram.

Are Za’Darius Smith And Preston Smith Brothers?

The two best Smiths in the NFL were on the Green Bay Packers. Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith anchored the Packers’ defense for three years.

Preston and Za’Darius have always been regarded as brothers because of their shared last name, but are the two Smiths even related?

When they graduated from college in 2015, Za’Darius and Preston were in the same draft class. Preston and Za’Darius were taken in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins and the Baltimore Ravens, respectively.

The Smith brothers
Za’Darius Smith And Preston Smith Are Just Like Brothers (Source: Sportscasting.com)

The Smiths joined the Packers in 2019 and played together until 2021 before Za’Darius left to join the Minnesota Vikings in 2022 on a 3-year contract.

The two first ran into each other on a college visit to Mississippi State University. Za’Darius decided to play for East Mississippi Community College, whereas Preston ultimately chose to continue playing for MSU.

Throughout their college careers, they remained in touch.

Even though Preston and Za’Darius are unrelated, their unique relationship is beyond football- on top of that, their last name is ‘Smith.’ Preston declared in 2019 that he and Za’Darius are just like brothers.

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Education- High School and Collegiate Career

Smith attended his hometown’s Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia. By those days, his exceptional football skills made him everyone’s eye candy. 

He also received ratings of two stars from 247sports.com and Scout.com and three stars from Rivals.com.

Then for his higher studies and to seek college football opportunities, he enrolled at Mississippi State University on August 17, 2011. There, Preston played for the Bulldogs and even got acclaim as First-team All-SEC.

He reportedly turned down earlier offers from Kentucky Wildcats, Syracuse Orange, and West Virginia Mountaineers to commit to Mississippi.

Smith Played For Mississippi State Bulldogs During His College Career
Smith Played For Mississippi State Bulldogs During His College Career (Source: Sports Illustrated)

Preston participated in 8 games as a true freshman in 2011 and forced a fumble in the Egg Bowl victory over Ole Miss (31-3).

The player played in all 13 of the Bulldogs’ games in 2012 and topped the team with 4.5 sacks. Similarly, 2013 saw Smith finish as a junior with 2.5 sacks, including 2.0 in a 59-26 loss to LSU.

The player had a solid start in 2014 and took home the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week Award each of the first three weeks of the year.

Preston recorded an interception in the Bulldogs’ 49-0 thrashing of Southern Miss. Likewise, in the Bulldogs’ victory over UAB, he returned another acrobatic, one-handed interception for a touchdown.

Preston had 42 tackles, nine sacks, two interceptions, and a touchdown at the end of the regular season. CBS and NFL Draft Scout predicted the player to be selected in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft after his senior year. 

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Preston Smith | NFL Career

Smith became the 38th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft by Washington Redskins. Later, he signed a four-year, $5.77 million contract with the Redskins on May 11, 2015, with a $3.16 million guaranteed and a $2.46 million signing bonus.

Preston played in the Washington Redskins’ season-opening game against the Miami Dolphins, recording two solo tackles, forced two fumbles, and a sack. His playoff debut came on January 10, 2016, against Green Bay Packers at NFC Wildcard.

Preston was selected as one of the top NFL players under 25 in March 2016. Behind Ryan Kerrigan and Junior Galette, the player was expected to serve as the outside linebacker’s backup going into training camp.

Preston Smith playing football
Preston Smith Playing Football For The Green Bay Packers (Source: Instagram)

The 2017 season started with a victory over the Arizona Cardinals for Preston and ended with a season-high eight sacks.

When Ryan Kerrigan fumbled in the end zone in 2018, Smith recovered it, sealing the victory over the Dallas Cowboys and scoring his first touchdown. It was his last season with the team.

Preston Smith’s career stat at Washington Redskins (now Washington Commanders since 2022) recorded 107 solo tackles, 24.5 sacks, four interceptions, and 43 long interceptions.

Signed With Green Bay Packers

The player agreed to a four-year, $52 million contract with the Green Bay Packers on March 14 as its outside linebacker. He had four pass deflections, 12 sacks, and 56 tackles by the season’s end. 

After a disappointing season in 2020, Smith signed a new contract with Green Bay on March 12, 2021, which reduced his base salary.

However, it included performance bonuses that, if he recorded 14 sacks during the season, could raise his overall pay above the previous amount.

With Za’Darius Smith sidelined for most of the year due to injury, Preston bounced back in 2021, recording nine sacks as a full-time starter.

The player extended his contract with the Packers for four years and $52.5 million on March 14, 2022, through the 2026 season.

Career Stats With Packers

  • Five post-season game appearances in 2021 (19 tackles, including 14 solo tackles)
  • He started in 58 out of 61 games
  • Three forced fumbles, one touchdown, and 183 tackles (assist 64 and 119 solos)

Preston Smith | Age and Body Measurements

Smith was born in the year 1992. Hence, he is 31 years old. According to the Chinese zodiac, the player was born in the Monkey year. 

Likewise, as a November baby, the player’s zodiac sign is Scorpio. Concerning Preston’s physique, the player with dark brown eyes and black hair has a buffed body and athletic agility. 

Preston has a towering height of 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) and weighs 120 kg (256 lbs). The player’s arm length is 34 inches.

Preston Smith Is Married | Name of Wife, Children & Relationship

The former Washington Redskins player married his girlfriend-turned-wife Realyn Edwards after dating for more than five years. They exchanged vows on July 11, 2021, and shared wedding pictures on Instagram.

In 2022, Preston recalled those moments on social media on their 1st wedding anniversary.

Even though further details on the events of the wedding remain low-key, Smith’s daughter Lauren Marie Smith seemingly served as the flower girl.

The NFL star’s daughter Lauren (born on January 1, 2014) is from his ex-girlfriend, who goes by the social media handle @toni.elle.

Preston Smith with his wife and daughter
Preston Smith’s Wedding Photoshoot With His Wife And Daughter (Source: Instagram)

As for Smith’s wife, Realyn Edwards, nothing much about her is known except her birthday on May 23.

Preston and Realyn have another baby girl named Phoenix Smith, whom they welcomed on May 27, 2022. The Green Bay Packers linebackers shared the picture of his newborn baby girl shortly after.

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Preston Smith (@prestonsmith)

On October 27 that year, he wished Phoenix, who turned five months old, and wrote, “Happy five months to Princess Phoenix who brings so much joy to her mom, big sister and I lives we love you so much”.

Best wishes to the family!

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Preston Smith | Tattoos

The football player has many tattoos carved on his body. For instance, he has wings and crosses tattooed on his chest.

The cross with wings conveys your pride in your Christian faith and your disbelief that getting tattoos makes you a wrong person.

The most frequent justification for getting a cross with wings tattoo is to pay tribute to a deceased loved one. Likewise, the player also has a praying hands tattoo along with the words “R.I.P.” and ” Kathryn 1914 – 2004″ written on his left arm.

Likewise, the player has his birth year, “1992,” carved just above his left collarbone. He also has a tattoo of a lion on his stomach. Preston also has a tiger face tattoo on his neck. 

Similarly, he also has the words “Against” and “All odds” inked on his right and left forearms, respectively. He also has a tattoo of a bird dove on his back. Dove is regarded as a symbol of peace. 

Moreover, a big tattoo of the word “Family” is carved on his right shoulder. This shows the player’s love for his family. He also has the words ” Talent” inscribed on his right arm.

Social Media

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Preston Smith (@prestonsmith)

Net Worth of Preston Smith | Contract, Salary & Endorsement

The money shower began for Smith after he signed a deal with Washington Redskins on May 11, 2015, that saw him $5.779 million through 4 years.

With 7 NFL seasons, playing for two teams so far, Preston Smith enjoys a net worth of $7 million in March 2024.

Following four seasons with Redskins, he inked a $52 million contract with Green Bay Packers on March 12, 2019. It had him a base salary of $850,000 and a signing bonus of $16 million for his first season (2019-20 season).

Later, the pass rusher, who was about to begin the last year of his contract, received an extension through the 2025-26 season from the Packers on March 14, 2017.

The restructured deal for four years totaled $52.5 million, clearing off $4 million in cap space and converting his previous contract’s salary & bonus into incentives.

According to sources, the new agreement gives Preston more than $65 million over four seasons with a potential profit of $71 million.

In year one (2022-23 season), Preston receives $14 million.

The Packers’ efforts to stay under the salary cap before the start of the new league year are continued with the signing of Preston to an extension.

Find the player’s current contract details below:

  • 2022 Salary Cap Charge: $11,460,588 (5.32% of cap)
  • 2022 Cash Payout: $14,000,000 (5.18% of spending)
  • 2022 Cash to Cap Ratio: 1.22
  • Contract Value: $52,000,000 ($13,000,000 APY)
  • Fully Guaranteed Money: $12,200,000
  • Contract Ranking: 28/254 at EDGE
  • 2021 OTC Valuation: $11,202,000

With the deal running, Smith would become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) in 2027.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

Are the Smiths on the Packers brothers?

No, Preston Smith and Za'darius Smith on the NFL team Green Bay Packers are not actual brothers, but not less too. They met while at Mississippi State University and were on the same draft, and later, both of them joined the Packers in 2019.

Does Preston Smith have a baby?

Yes, the NFL star is father of two daughters. His eldest daughter Lauren is from his ex-girlfriend. In 2022, Smith welcomed daughter Phoenix with his wife Realyn Edwards.

Is Preston Smith still with Green Bay Packers?

The 2015 NFL Draft by Washington Redskins signed with Green Bay Packers in 2019 after four seasons with prior team. In March 2022, Preston inked an extension deal with the Packers for four seasons which is worth $52.5 million.

Aayusha
Aayushahttps://playersbio.com/

Aayusha Bhattarai

Aayusha Bhattarai is a dedicated writer with a passion for uncovering the fascinating stories behind athletes' lives. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for storytelling, she brings readers on a journey through the triumphs, struggles, and inspirations of their favorite players.

Expertise:

Athlete Profiles Net Worth

Highlights

  • Aayusha explores the off-field lives of athletes, from their hobbies and interests to their family dynamics.
  • She keeps readers informed with the latest news and developments in the world of sports.

Experience

Aayusha's passion for sports journalism stems from her love of both writing and athletics. With a background in journalism and a keen interest in sports, she combines her talents to deliver compelling stories that resonate with readers.

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