Former Chargers cornerback breaks silence on trade to Seahawks

The San Diego Chargers recently underwent a series of roster adjustments, culminating in the trade of undrafted cornerback Avery Smith to the Seattle Seahawks. In return for Smith, the Chargers acquired a 2027 sixth-round pick. The 22-year-old cornerback, speaking to reporters on Thursday, admitted to being surprised by the trade citing his lack of knowledge about undrafted free agents being traded prior to the regular season.

Smith, who signed with the Chargers as a spring undrafted free agent from Toledo, had a solid preseason performance. However, the depth in the cornerback position made it difficult for the rookie to secure a spot. Competitors like Donte Jackson, Cam Hart, and Tarheeb Still outperformed Smith during the camp. Before joining the Chargers, Smith had already demonstrated his talent at Toledo, tallying 127 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 26 passes defended, three interceptions, and one forced fumble.

Despite his contributions to the Chargers, Smith will now aim to establish himself in Seattle, where he is currently the second-ranked cornerback on the depth chart.