Oct 30, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Za'Darius Smith. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.
Za’Darius Smith signed a prototypical team-friendly deal in March when he switched NFC North teams and joined the Vikings after three seasons with the Packers. That contract had a low cap hit for the Vikings in 2022, only $3,343,136. For a star pass rusher, that is comically low.
His cap hit might be low, but he is earning a lot during his first Vikings season, $10 million, to be exact. The contract was a masterpiece by cap guru Rob Brzezinksi. In addition to his yearly cash payment, Smith can earn money via incentives. The Vikings added to his contract that he would make $500,000 after recording 8.5 sacks, plus an additional $250,000 after 10,5 sacks and another $250,000 after 12.5 sacks. With two games to go, Smith currently has 10 sacks after the first 15 games, so the next couple of games are important for Smith’s pockets.
The former Packer was set to sign a deal with the Ravens in the offseason, the team that drafted him in the fourth round of the 2015 draft. All the big guys in NFL media reported about the deal, but he backed out and returned to the pool of free agents.
A few days later, the Vikings hosted the veteran for a formal visit, and he signed with the rival organization of his former team, which likely impacted his decision. Smith recorded a sack in the season opener against his former teammate Aaron Rodgers.
The linebacker is second in the NFL in quarterback pressures, first in quarterback hurries, and seventh in quarterback hits. People around the league, especially Vikings fans, knew that Smith was one of the most disruptive players in the game.
However, he is coming off a season in which he missed all but the first and the last game of the year with a back injury, so that’s why it can be titled as a surprise. Back injuries can linger and re-aggravate, but Smith has played in every game. He missed a few practices and hobbled around in some contests but hasn’t missed one yet.
If he needs more motivation, the veteran will try to get his sacks required for the incentive against his former team in Week 17. He would probably enjoy eliminating the Packers from playoff contention. Smith is lining up all over the line, from edge to defensive end and even defensive tackle.
The Vikings try to find the weakness of the defensive line and want to isolate Smith against that weak link. That versatility is rare, and he is one of the few players that can rush from every angle.
The incentive was declared “not likely to be earned” because Smith didn’t meet those milestones in the 2021 campaign. Therefore, the incentives count against the 2023 cap space. Next season, Smith has some similar incentives in his contract.
He can earn $1.5 million with his first 8.5 sacks, another $1.5 million after recording 10.5 sacks, and $1 million after recording 12.5 sacks. That adds up to a total of $4 million. And the Vikings would certainly not complain if they had to pay someone well-deserved money.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and Classic rock is his music genre of choice. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt