Just like his team, Preston Smith is peaking at the right time.
The Washington Redskins took the 6-foot-5, 271-pounder with the 38th-overall pick in May’s NFL Draft, hoping he could replicate his success rushing the passer in the SEC as a defensive lineman with Mississippi State.
Of course, these things tend to take a little time, especially when you’re asking a rookie to make a position switch to outside linebacker, where his focus shifts from rushing the passer every down to having major responsibilities in pass coverage in certain defensive playcalls.
Then, there’s simply learning the ropes of being a professional football player.