Philadelphia Eagles: Now a Seahawk, Is Marcus Smith still a bust?

After failing to make an impact with the Philadelphia Eagles, Marcus Smith is now a member of the Seattle Seahawks. But is he still a bust for his new team?

It’s official, Marcus Smith will go down in Philadelphia Eagles history as a bust.

After being handpicked by Howie Roseman to play outside linebacker in then-coordinator Billy Davis‘ 3-4 defense, the former Louisville Cardinal was bounced around the team’s depth chart, moving from outside linebacker to inside and then back to outside, and ultimately failed to live up to his potential in a scheme that many thought he was a perfect fit for.

And Smith didn’t fare much better at defensive end in Jim Schwartz‘s attacking 4-3 scheme.

Now playing with his hands in the ground, Smith again found himself buried deep on the team’s depth chart, and often watch from the sideline as Steven Means, a 26-year-old journeyman took snaps above the former first-round pick. Even though he did record a career-high 2.5 sacks in limited action, it became incredibly clear that Smith was not in the team’s plans going forward after the team selected Derek Barnett in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

After holding out for much of the preseason, the team ultimately released Smith and gave the fourth year player an opportunity to latch on with a new team and latch on he did.

Smith took his services west and joined up with one of the best defensive lines in the league, the Seattle Seahawks. Though he appeared to be a longshot to make the team’s roster, a string of injuries and the trading of Cassius Marsh to the New England Patriots opened up a spot for the former first-round pick, and just like that Smith was back in business.

Though still not logging starter minutes, Smith has played fairly well for the Hawks, having matched his career high in sacks in only nine games, while averaging a respectable 20-snaps per game for Pete Carroll‘s squad.

With Dion Jordan, a player many fans wanted Chip Kelly to trade Brandon Graham for, doubtful to play in the two teams primetime showdown, Smith could be in line for a solid chunk of snaps against his former team and will have an opportunity to rush the Eagles top-ranked offensive line.

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Here’s to hoping we get a vintage Marcus Smith performance against his former team on Sunday night.

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