Jaguars Signing LBs Malcolm Smith, Donald Payne, Place Two On IR

According to Michael DiRocco, the Jaguars are signing LB Malcolm Smith on Tuesday. 

The team also announced it signed LB Donald Payne while placing TE Geoff Swaim and LB D.J. Alexander on injured reserve to clear space. 

Smith and Payne should provide a boost to an injury-depleted Jacksonville linebacking corps. 

Smith, 30, is a former seventh-round pick of the Seahawks back in 2011. He played out his rookie contract with the Seahawks and was named Super Bowl MVP a few years ago before signing a two-year deal with the Raiders in 2015.

The 49ers signed Smith to a five-year, $26.5 million contract that included $13 million guaranteed last year. He stood to make a base salary of $3,750,000 for the 2019 season when his contract was restructured by the team. Smith was still released coming out of the preseason. 

In 2018, Smith appeared in 12 games for the 49ers and recorded 35 tackles, no sacks and a pass defense.

Payne, 25, originally signed on with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent out of Stetson back in 2017. He was waived coming out of the preseason and later claimed off of waivers by the Jaguars.

Jacksonville elected to cut Payne loose this past May. He signed with Baltimore this August only to be cut loose coming out of the preseason. After a short stint on the Ravens practice squad, Payne was released again. 

In 2018, Payne appeared in eight games for the Jaguars and recorded one tackle and a fumble recovery.