The Washington Commanders' facility probably looks a little different to Preston Smith from the last time he played for them.

In many ways, the Commanders are not the same team that Smith, a second-round draft pick by the franchise, left back in 2018. For starters, they have a new name and head coach, but the facilities themselves, from the locker room to the meeting spaces, have had a significant upgrade in the last two years. Now that he has signed with the team once again, he joins just four other players who have memories of what the team used to be seven years ago.

But the aesthetics aren't the only things that have improved in Smith's absence. The franchise is heading in a new, exciting direction, and that's what enticed him to rejoin the Burgundy & Gold.

"I was ecstatic," Smith said. "This is where it started for me. This is the place I called home for the first years in the league ... I'm just happy to continue my legacy here where it started."

The Commanders have had their eye on Smith for a while. He has built a reputation as a solid pass-rusher with 70.5 career sacks -- the 12th most among active players -- with 443 tackles in 163 games. Despite being in his early 30s, Smith has found a way to contribute, as he recorded 4.5 sacks and 32 tackles with the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024.

"I've followed him for a long time," head coach Dan Quinn said of Smith. "I feel like he's one of those players I've known but didn't have a chance to coach and always have wanted to. When he was able to come in for the workout and be here, it just felt like a good fit."

The opportunity for Smith's return to the franchise arose once defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. was ruled out for the rest of the season. They were looking for size and pass-rush depth to replace Wise, and Smith (6-foot-5, 265 pounds) was deemed a good fit for what they were searching for.

"It's a great feeling, just to know there's coaches out here that like the talent and who you are as a person," Smith said. "I've heard some great things about him [Quinn], and I've known about him for a long time ... He's a guy I'm happy to play for."

Smith was a mainstay of the Commanders' defense during his first four-year stint, appearing in 64 games with 50 starts. He became a full-time starter in his second season and made 48 consecutive starts from 2016-18. In that span, he recorded four interceptions, nine pass breakups and two fumble recoveries, one of which was a game-sealing touchdown over the Dallas Cowboys in 2018.

There aren't many players left from Smith's previous season with the Commanders. Daron Payne, Tress Way and Jeremy Reaves are the only ones who didn't leave for other opportunities. Josh Johnson, who started three games for Washington in 2018, is the third quarterback on the roster, but he also spent some time away from the team.

Ryan Kerrigan is the other familiar face from Smith's previous stint, although he's now the team's assistant linebackers coach/pass-rush specialist.

"It's kind of crazy," Smith said, to have a former teammate as a coach, but it does make things easier for him to work with someone who already has personal knowledge of his skill set.

"He was a great example as a teammate," Smith said. "He's been helping me get along in the playbook and getting up to speed with everything. He's been a great help ever since I met him."

It might take some time for Smith to get more involved in the game plan, but the Commanders are hoping he can add more depth to a defensive front that has produced four sacks in the past two games. And Smith, 32, feels like he has plenty more to add.

"I can bring experience," Smith said. "I'm a guy who knows how to get to the quarterback. I'm a guy who's versatile...who can be used in any way. I can be an asset to this defense and this team overall."

The team has come "a long way," Smith said, from when he was last part of the roster. Aside from all the upgrades to the facilities, the team is in a much better position than it was seven years ago. They're less than a year removed from an NFC Championship appearance after their best regular season record in decades. What's more, there is hope for the future with a new culture and a talented quarterback under center.

Smith likes what the new regime has done with the place, and he's happy to be back in the new era.

"I like the feel there is around here," Smith said. "The atmosphere is great. The spirit is way up from what it was when I was here the first time."