Packers Release Pro Bowl OLB Za’Darius Smith

Za'Darius Smith with the Ravens in 2017.
Za'Darius Smith with the Ravens in 2017. Photo by Jason Brown/Prosports/REX/Shutterstock (9072028bh)

Pro Bowl outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith didn’t score a contract extension from the Green Bay Packers as he hoped. Instead, the Packers will reportedly release Smith and make him a free agent.

The Packers made the news official via their social media on Monday.

It was widely expected that Green Bay would part ways with Smith if the two sides didn’t agree to an extension or a contract restructure. The 29-year-old player was set to count close to $28 million against the cap in 2022, which was a number the team couldn’t afford considering their salary cap issues. By releasing the veteran, the Packers cleared around$15.7 a million.

Za’Darius Smith joined the Packers as a free agent on a four-year, $66 million contract back in 2019. He had an impressive start to his Green Bay stint, recording 26.0 sacks in 2019 and 2020 while making two Pro Bowls and receiving one All-Pro nod. The 2021 season, however, didn’t go so well for Smith.

During the offseason, Smith reportedly tried to get himself a new deal that would match his production in the previous two seasons. On the other hand, the Packers were hesitant to do so, considering he had a couple of years left on his deal. It proved to be the right decision as Smith reported to training camp nursing a back injury. He missed 16 out of 17 games in the regular season due to the same injury.

On Monday, the Packers made several other moves that helped them get a lower salary cap number. This included signing Preston Smith to an extension and releasing offensive tackle Billy Turner.

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