7 things to know about new Bills LB Andre Smith

The Bills made a surprise move up and down the east coast on Monday, trading for linebacker Andre Smith.

Formerly of the Carolina Panthers (of course), he was actually slated to be released. Various reports out of Carolina said he was hitting the waiver wire, but instead, the Bills sent a conditional 2023 draft pick to the Panthers for him. Essentially, the Bills just wanted to hop in front of the wavier line and grab him.

But because of that pick given up, even a very late one in the seventh round, some might think that Smith will have a good opportunity to contribute with the Bills… so let’s get to know him.

Here are seven things to know about new Bills linebacker Andre Smith:

Panthers linebacker Andre Smith. Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Things come full circle

Well, that’s interesting. As you may already know, the Bills and Panthers have a kind of lifeline to one another. That will probably soon breakdown because Ron Rivera is no longer their head coach. For now it continues via Smith.

But the 23-year-old already had his connections to the Bills in one distinct way because of the history between these two teams. In 2017, the Bills acquired wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin via the Panthers. The Bills sent a third rounder and seventh rounder, both in 2018, in exchange for him. That seventh-round selection seemed to be just a throwaway pick. But… who’d it end up being? That’s right, it was Smith.

In order for this trade to become full circle, The Bills will need to bring in cornerback Rashaan Gaulden who was the Panthers’ pick with the third rounder in 2018.

… Could that happen? Yes… seeing as Gaulden is currently a free agent… (But we’re not predicting that at all…)

Panthers linebacker Andre Smith. Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Where is his fit?

Smith seems to have a slight leg up on the competition to stick with the Bills, as mentioned, because the club gave up an asset for him. Even so, Smith isn’t coming to the Bills to play any sort of meaningful role on defense.

Where the Bills will use him is on special teams. There, Smith played 65 percent of Carolina’s special teams snaps and recorded five tackles in 2019. By comparison, Smith has played in way more special teams snaps in his career as well, 363 to 36 defensive snaps over the course of his two-year career. But Smith could be some depth at the mike linebacker position as well, as he lists as an inside linebacker with the Panthers. There the Bills have Tremaine Edmunds up top and perhaps Smith’s biggest depth competition will be Tyrel Dodson and Corey Thompson. As one could tell just by reading that sentence, the Bills’ linebacker room does not have great depth.

But one other name to watch is running back Taiwan Jones. The 32-year-old backup rusher hurt his knee in training camp and hasn’t suited up in recent days, plus the Bills re-signed rookie rusher Antonio Williams. Is Jones’ injury more serious than once thought? A storyline to watch is Smith and Williams in with Jones out.

Bills receiver Andre Reed. Credit: USA TODAY Sports

Knows one former Bills great

Hall of Famer and former Bills wide receiver, the one who shares a first name with the newest Bills player. was certainly excited to see the Bills pick Smith up. That guy, of course, was Andre Reed.

Upon seeing the news the Bills traded for Smith, he sent out well wishes on Twitter, calling Smith an “intelligent player/ human on and off the field.” It’s unclear how the two know each other, but perhaps it’s from the 20th annual celebrity sweat flag football game held in Florida earlier this offseason. Smith posted to his social media page on Instagram and shared a video of him intercepting a pass during the game, while also posing for a picture with Reed and former NFL QB Donovan McNabb during the event. Check those both out here:

Bengals offensive tackle Andre Smith. Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Check your sources

We’re living in a weird time due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The NFL gave players the option to opt out of playing in 2020 because of the virus, and among them was Andre Smith.

But no… not Andre Smith the newest Bill. Andre Smith the former sixth-overall pick of the Bengals who’s now on the Ravens. That other Andre Smith opted out and over and over again, the Bills’ new Andre Smith was confused with him by fans and media outlets alike. Smith took to his social media account on Twitter to point it out multiple times the offseason. On July 28, he was blunt and tweeted out: “I am not Andre Smith who opted out. Please stop tagging me.”

Smith even made sure ESPN knew they messed up. On a graphic posted on Aug. 3, yes, even the world-wide leader screwed up. The team in this graphic is right, the photo is not:

Panthers linebacker Andre Smith. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)

LIVED Cubicle life

This offseason Smith actually took on a NFLPA program for a few weeks in an effort to build his resume outside of football. Smith was connected with the ticketing company, StubHub, via the NFLPA’s externship program. Along with Seahawks running back Robert Turbin, Bengals wide receiver Trenton Irwin and free agent defensive tackle Aziz Shittu, Smith learned the ins and outs of the ticketing business in an effort to prepare him for life after football.

Smart idea. Here’s how the Panthers’ team website broke down what Smith did there:

In addition, Smith, who played his college ball at the University of North Carolina, continued slowly chipping away at his remaining work there in an effort to get his degree. He was studying biology and sociology courses this summer.

Panthers linebacker Andre Smith. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)

Community man

During his time with the Panthers, Smith wasn’t shy about working with the local community, something that one could guess will probably continue with the Bills. In June, he partnered with Lenovo to donate 600 Chromebooks to students in the Charlotte area.

Smith also hasn’t been shy about athletes using their platform to better social injustices ongoing in the United States currently. Here’s Smith dishing his thoughts on that right here:

Panthers’ Christian McCaffrey (22) misses a catch as Andre Smith (57) defends. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Some early career injury history

Actually, Smith might be pretty lucky to even be in the NFL right now. First, as a former seventh-round pick, nothing is guaranteed there. Plenty of seventh rounders never see an active roster in the league. But Smith lucked out a bit in 2018.

Running the 40-yard dash at the 2018 NFL Combine, his hamstring popped. Smith was still drafted, but in his preseason debut, the injury occurred again. That same year when he made his debut in the regular season in Week 5… the same thing happened a third time. Smith previously said that the injury turned into a “constant worry” for him.

As a rookie, that injury held Smith to only three games played and he still made the Panthers roster despite only playing in part of one exhibition now. He previously suffered a chest and knee injuries in college, too. However, in 2019, Smith did appear in all 16 games for Carolina, so hopefully these issues are a thing of the past.

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