Nine-year veteran edge defender Za’Darius Smith signed a new contract with the Browns. Smith, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, spent the 2023 season with the Cleveland Browns but has also played for the Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings.
It's a 2-year deal worth $23.5M base, source said. Upside to $25M. $12M base in year 1. https://t.co/YDewLHTdmk
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2024
Za’Darius Smith, Cleveland Browns, Agree to Contract
Edge rusher Za’Darius Smith spent the final year of his contract with the Cleveland Browns. Originally acquired via an offseason trade, the longtime edge rusher had a strong season working on one of the best defenses in the game. Starting and appearing in 16 games, Smith finished the season with 5.5 sacks, 27 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss, and 20 quarterback hits.
Za’Darius Smith originally entered the league as a fourth-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Selected by the Baltimore Ravens, the Kentucky product spent the majority of his rookie season in a reserve role. Utilized as a situational pass rusher, the rookie didn’t start a single game but still found a way to record 5.5 sacks, 30 tackles, seven tackles-for-loss, and seven quarterback hits in 15 games.
After spending two more years in a similar role, Za’Darius Smith broke out in the final year of his rookie contract. Starting in eight games while appearing in all 16, the edge defender recorded 8.5 sacks, 45 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss, and 25 quarterback hits heading into free agency.
The Green Bay Packers bet that Smith could maintain that level of play in a larger role, and they were correct. The former fourth-round pick immediately justified Green Bay’s four-year, $66 million investment by recording 13.5 sacks during his first year with the team. He had a similarly strong year in 2020, recording 12.5 sacks while helping the team make the NFC Championship Game.
Unfortunately, a back injury ended Smith’s 2021 before it could ever truly begin. The Kentucky product played in just one game and was released in the following offseason. He was able to bounce back, as Za’Darius Smith signed a new contract with the Minnesota Vikings and recorded 10 sacks.
Main Photo: Troy Taormina – USA Today Sports
