The NFL Has Forgotten One Former Vikings Star
Remember Za’Darius Smith?
A once-dominant ex-Vikings EDGE remains available deep into the offseason. His unexpected absence from NFL rosters is starting to turn heads. Which team will take the plunge?
The former Vikings pass rusher from the 2022 campaign needs a job. No team has signed him.
Four and a half months of free agency are in the rearview, and to date, Smith is evidently biding his time, simply being patient, or no team has called him about a 2025 relationship. In an ordinary offseason, before 2025, Smith would’ve been a hot commodity.
Za’Darius Smith Needs Work
No NFL team has been in a rush to sign the three-time Pro Bowler.
Former Vikings OLB Za’Darius Smith Is Unemployed
Smith graced a Bleacher Report list this week of the NFL’s top remaining free agents.
Kristopher Knox wrote, “Za’Darius Smith should start generating some serious late-offseason buzz. Though Smith was traded from Cleveland to the Detroit Lions before last year’s deadline and then released by Detroit early this offseason, he was solid with both clubs. Smith recorded 5.5 sacks with the Browns in 2023 and another five with Cleveland in 2024.”
“After the trade, he recorded four sacks and 15 quarterback pressures in eight games for the Lions. While Detroit allowed Smith to walk early this offseason, they should strongly consider bringing him back now. The Lions did little to bolster their pass rush aside from re-signing Marcus Davenport, and Smith is probably the best complement to Aidan Hutchinson that they’re going to find this late in the offseason—barring a trade for a player like Trey Hendrickson.”
Many expected Smith to reunite with Detroit after the Lions presumably learned their lesson about defensive injuries in 2024, but it’s no cigar, at least not yet, for Smith in Detroit.
Knox added, “A return to the Baltimore Ravens could also make sense for Smith. The Ravens are looking to make a championship run this season and still have $17.5 million in cap space available. While Baltimore recorded an impressive 53 sacks last season, it could afford depth on the edge behind Odafe Oweh and 34-year-old Kyle Van Noy.”
“Smith spent his first four seasons in Baltimore before signing with the Green Bay Packers in 2019. Logical Landing Spots: Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions.”
Once a Force
From 2019 to 2022, Smith ranked among the league’s top EDGE defenders. He ferociously terrorized quarterbacks and served as a spark plug in various Packers and Vikings defenses.
In his 10-year career, Smith has banked 69 sacks and over 300 total tackles. He was arguably at his best in 2019 and 2020, when Minnesota began winding down the Mike Zimmer era. Smith always seemed to have Minnesota’s number. Kirk Cousins can likely attest.
Smith with the Lions Last Year
The Cleveland Browns traded Smith to Detroit last year in a deal involving pick swaps, and he played 291 defensive snaps for the Lions before Detroit clumsily collapsed at home in the Divisional Round of the postseason against the Washington Commanders.
Smith tallied 4 sacks in Detroit (5 in Cleveland before the trade) and produced a marvelous 74.7 Pro Football Focus grade between both teams.
If last year was a reasonable indicator — it should be — Smith still has the oomph to make an impact.
Waiting until August?
Often, veterans over the age of 30 wait until after training camp to lock in for the regular season. That way, they can skip the tiresome grind of training camp, and in fact, general managers and coaches don’t seem to mind the tendency.
There’s a decent chance that Smith is waiting until mid-August to choose his next employer. It’s just that he’s good enough, his 2024 season too fruitful, for no team to have signed him by now.
Don’t Rule out the New York Jets
JetsXFactor.com‘s Connor Long hinted this week that Smith could make sense for the Jets.
He opined, “Smith may be on the back nine of his career, but the veteran edge rusher still brings a blend of production and leadership that teams crave, and the Jets could use both. Across 17 games split between the Browns and Lions, Smith logged nine sacks and tied for 10th in pressures (60) among edge rushers.”
“Even as he enters his 11th NFL season, the veteran remains a disruptive force off the edge. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 270 pounds, Smith also brings some value as a run defender. He posted a 62.8 run-defense grade in 2024, per Pro Football Focus, solid enough to outpace every Jets edge rusher last season outside of Eric Watts.”
The former Viking and Packer would present nice veteran depth behind Will McDonald IV and Jermaine Johnson.
Little continued, “Smith would bring much-needed experience to a Jets defensive front that is in transition. With Glenn now running New York’s defense, a reunion makes even more sense. Glenn has praised Smith not just for his talent, but for his infectious energy and physical style of play.”
“For a Jets team looking to raise its defensive ceiling while setting a tone under a regime, Smith is an excellent option.”
Smith will turn 33 in September — the same day the Vikings open their season against the Chicago Bears — and should have a season or two left in the tank.
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