Steelers Sign WR Brandon Smith to Reserve/Future Deal - A Closer Look at the Journey
The Pittsburgh Steelers are already laying groundwork for 2026, and their latest move adds another intriguing name to the wide receiver room. On Thursday, the team signed Brandon Smith to a reserve/future contract - a low-risk, high-upside move that speaks to Smith’s persistence and potential.
Smith, 27, is no stranger to the grind. He’s entering his sixth year as a pro, though he’s only appeared in three NFL games - all with the New York Jets over the past two seasons.
But that stat line doesn’t tell the full story. Smith has carved out a path defined by resilience, bouncing between practice squads, spring leagues, and training camps, all while continuing to refine his game.
Let’s rewind. Smith came out of Iowa in 2021 as an undrafted free agent and initially landed with the Dallas Cowboys.
He spent two seasons on their practice squad but didn’t see game action. His college numbers weren’t eye-popping - Iowa’s offense has never been mistaken for wide-open - but Smith still managed a solid junior year in 2019 with 37 catches, 439 yards, and five touchdowns.
At 6-foot-1 and 218 pounds, he’s built like a prototypical outside receiver, and his athletic testing turned heads despite a slower 40-yard dash (4.64 seconds). His vertical (39.5 inches) and broad jump (10 feet, 10 inches) helped him earn a strong Relative Athletic Score of 9.16 out of 10 - an indicator of his raw explosiveness.
After two quiet years in Dallas, Smith took his talents to the XFL in 2023, suiting up for the DC Defenders. He made the most of his opportunity there, posting 118 receiving yards and a touchdown in six games. That stint helped him earn a shot with the Arizona Cardinals, though he was waived at the end of training camp.
But Smith wasn’t done. He returned to DC in the spring of 2024 - now under the UFL banner - and made a bigger impact.
In nine games, he hauled in 18 catches for 208 yards and two touchdowns, showing growth as a route-runner and outside target. That performance was enough to get the Jets’ attention.
They brought him in for the 2024 season, where he spent most of the year on the practice squad but finally made his NFL debut. He stuck around for 2025, logging two more games before being waived in early December.
He closed out the season on the Patriots’ practice squad.
Now, he’s getting another shot - this time in Pittsburgh. The Steelers are clearly looking to build depth and competition at wide receiver heading into the offseason. Smith joins Max Hurleman, John Rhys Plumlee, and Cole Burgess as the fourth wideout signed to a reserve/future deal.
For Smith, this is yet another chapter in a winding career. He’s not the flashiest name, and he’s not walking in with a guaranteed roster spot.
But he brings size, experience across multiple systems, and a hunger that’s hard to teach. He’s played both inside and outside, with recent reps primarily coming on the boundary - a spot where the Steelers could use more depth.
These reserve/future deals are all about upside. And while Smith’s NFL resume is still taking shape, his journey shows a player who refuses to let the door close. He’s earned this shot - and now it’s on him to make the most of it in Pittsburgh.