Malcolm Smith, the 2013 Super Bowl MVP, is moving south to Oakland.
Smith, 25, is expected to sign with Jack Del Rio and his revamped defense, the team announced. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Smith signed a two-year, $7 million deal.
The move will be welcome for both sides considering the fact that the Seahawks defense had no place for the man who helped them secure a Super Bowl berth and victory back in 2013.
With a healthy roster placing walls around him, Smith played in fewer than 30 percent of the team's defensive snaps during the regular season and in just two during a white knuckle win over the Green Bay Packers in the conference title game.
Under Del Rio, Smith will finally get a chance to play true starter's time like he did during the stretch run of the 2013 season and join forces with budding stars like Sio Moore and Khalil Mack.
The move underscores what has been happening to Seattle each of the last three seasons. While the marquee stars get locked up, their valuable depth -- the true core of their roster -- continues to get plucked by curious general managers looking to turn their fortunes around.
It doesn't look like it will slow down any time soon, either.
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