Smith has been released by the Patriots, the Boston Globe reports.

Smith, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL, will now look to catch on elsewhere as a depth DE/LB after failing to carve out a role in the Patriots' defense this summer.

New Patriots DE Will Smith is still rehabbing from the torn ACL he suffered last August.

Patriots signed DE Will Smith, formerly of the Saints.

Profootballtalk reports the Patriots are "viewed as the leaders" for free agent DE Will Smith.

Free agent DE Will Smith is visiting the Patriots.

Shortly after his release from the Saints, ESPN Boston suggested the Patriots could be interested in Smith. The 33-year-old (in July) missed all of 2013 with a torn ACL and may not have much left in the tank. He'd function as a situational pass rusher in New England behind Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich.

According to NFL.com's Albert Breer, the Seahawks would be interested in free agent DE Will Smith if they failed to re-sign Michael Bennett.

Smith would be a fit for the Seahawks' 4-3 defense after the Saints planned to square peg/round hole him into their new 3-4 scheme last season. The plan never came to fruition after Smith tore his ACL in training camp. Smith would be an intriguing signing as a bargain-basement, situational pass rusher.

Free agent DE/OLB Will Smith says he's "just about 100 percent" recovered from last August's ACL tear.

"I had a whole year off with the ACL injury and I'm just about 100 percent," Smith said. The 32-year-old is hoping to latch on with a 4-3 defense, returning to his natural position of defensive end. "I think I'm at heart a 4-3 defensive end," he said. "That's something I would like to play. But if I go to a team that requires me to play outside linebacker, I'm cool with that."

ESPN Boston suggests the Patriots could be interested in free agent DE Will Smith.

Smith was released by the Saints on Wednesday and is free to sign at any time. New England is looking for depth behind Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich, and Smith could fill that role as a situational pass rusher. He'll turn 33 in July and shouldn't command more than a one-year deal near the veteran's minimum.

The San Francisco Chronicle "can really see" the Raiders being interested in free agent DE Will Smith.

Smith was released by the Saints on Wednesday and is free to sign with any other team immediately. Coach Dennis Allen was the Saints' assistant defensive line coach from 2006-2007 and was on the New Orleans staff until 2010. Those were Smith's glory days. All four of Oakland's defensive line starters from 2013 are free agents, but GM Reggie McKenzie needs to be aiming much higher. He has over $60 million in cap space. Smith is best-suited as a backup.

Saints informed DE/OLB Will Smith of his release.

The move will likely be made official Thursday and saves the Saints $11.55 million against the 2014 salary cap. It was a no-brainer move, as New Orleans was about $13 million above the projected cap. Smith was never a fit as a 3-4 outside linebacker in Rob Ryan's defense; he's a natural 4-3 end. He'll turn 33 this summer, and we don't anticipate him having a hot market. GM Mickey Loomis' work isn't done. Other veterans that could be in trouble include CB Jabari Greer, WR Lance Moore and S Roman Harper, among others.

Saints DE/OLB Will Smith is considered an obvious cap casualty candidate.

Smith, who is coming off a torn ACL and will turn 33 in July, is due $11.55 million in salary and bonuses. Even if he takes a drastic pay cut, the cap-strapped Saints will likely be moving on. Smith, a natural 4-3 end, is not a fit in Rob Ryan's 3-4 anyway.

The Saints can create $11.55 million in salary cap space by releasing DE/OLB Will Smith this offseason.

Saints DE/OLB Will Smith is out for the season with a knee injury.

Attempting to remodel their defense under Rob Ryan, the Saints have now lost OLBs Smith and Victor Butler, and LE Kenyon Coleman to year-ending injuries. Smith's loss is probably the least devastating of those three, but is a reminder of how badly the team will struggle to generate pass rush no matter how well Smith "schemes." They don't have depth or talent. Look for Junior Galette and Martez Wilson to open the season as Ryan's starting 3-4 outside 'backers.

Saints OLB Will Smith is down to 268 pounds in preparation for his switch from base 4-3 end to 3-4 stand-up edge rusher.

Smith, 32, is listed at 6-foot-3, 282 on the Saints' official website, so he's shed a decent amount of weight. We're still skeptical that he makes the 53-man roster, especially if both Junior Galette and Martez Wilson have solid summers. Smith is due a $3 million base salary after taking a March pay cut.

SportsNOLA.com considers OLB Will Smith on the roster bubble.

Smith took a $6 million pay cut this offseason, but is still due a $3 million base salary in 2013 and will be asked to convert to outside linebacker in DC Rob Ryan's 3-4 scheme. He remains a strong candidate for release if one of Junior Galette or Martez Wilson can overtake him for a starting job in training camp.

Will Smith was running with the Saints' first-team defense at outside linebacker in OTAs this week.

Smith and Martez Wilson were with the ones, while Junior Galette and Victor Butler were with the twos. As we pointed out days ago, this attempt by the Saints to move 6-foot-3, 282-pound Smith to stand-up edge rusher is quite comical. Galette and Butler are younger and much more talented at this stage of their respective careers. Smith, due $3 million, is a candidate to be released.

Saints GM Mickey Loomis says Will Smith will start off at outside linebacker in OTAs.

Saints DE Will Smith took a $6 million pay cut to stay with the team.

His base salary was chopped from $9 million to $3 million. Smith essentially now has a two-year, $14.4 million contract, though in 2014 his salary skyrockets to $10.4 million. Smith will be 33 then, so 2013 will almost certainly be his last season in New Orleans. Smith's pass-rush ability has evaporated.

As expected, the Saints have asked DE Will Smith to accept a "big pay reduction" in salary for 2013.

Smith is owed $10.15 million in including salary and bonuses. The Saints might not take him back at half of that price. New Orleans is transitioning to a 3-4 defense, and Smith has been a base 4-3 end his entire career. In all likelihood, Smith is going to be released, saving the Saints salary cap space.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune considers DE Will Smith and LB Jonathan Vilma poor fits for the Saints' new 3-4 defense.

"They might not be part of the Saints' future plans," writes Mike Triplett. Smith and Vilma are almost certain to be cap casualties this offseason. Their diminishing skills couple with their inflated salaries is the perfect recipe for release. Smith is due $10.15 million in total for 2013, while Vilma is set to earn $6 million in the final year of his deal.