The Cleveland Browns bolstered their pass-rush unit on Friday by acquiring veteran outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Browns sent fifth-round picks in (2024 and 2025) to Minnesota for Smith. As part of the agreement, Cleveland will also receive sixth-rounder and seventh-rounder in 2025.

According to Rapoport, Smith also reworked his contract which will guarantee him $11.75 million for this season and make him a free agent in 2024.

The Vikings signed Smith to a three-year, $42 million contract last offseason despite him playing just one game with the Green Bay Packers in 2021. The Kentucky product responded with a Pro Bowl year in which he delivered 10.0 sacks in 16 games while adding 44 tackles and career-high five deflections.

Despite a successful campaign, the likelihood of Smith staying with the Vikings always seemed bleak. The franchise reportedly started shopping the 30-year-old player as soon as they signed free agent outside linebacker Marcus Davenport early in the offseason.

Za’Darius Smith has 54.5 sacks since starting his NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens in 2015. He is among only five players in the league to get double digits in sacks in three of the past four seasons. The list also includes his new teammate, Browns’ superstar defensive end Myles Garrett.

The post Browns Acquire Pro Bowl Pass Rusher Za’Darius Smith From Vikings appeared first on SportzBonanza.

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.

The post Packers Release Pro Bowl OLB Za’Darius Smith appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Pro Bowl linebacker Za’Darius Smith left no doubt about where he wants to end his NFL career. The 28-year-old player went on Twitter on Wednesday and made sure everyone knows he wants to be “Packer for life.”

While Smith’s tweet seems unprompted, the statement might have something to do with reports that Green Bay are thinking about giving him an extension this offseason.

Smith still has two years left on a four-year, $66 million contract he signed with the Packers in 2019, but the organizations would benefit from giving him a new deal. The extension would keep one of their most prominent players on defense with the franchise long-term while also helping Green Bay with their salary cap situation.

Zach Kruse of Packers Wire writes that a new contract for Smith would free around $12.4 million in cap space for Green Bay. This money could then be used to keep free agents and improve the roster that made it to the NFC Championship last season.

Since swapping the Baltimore Ravens for the Packers, Za’Darius Smith has been a nightmare for the opposing offenses. He played all 32 games while producing 105 tackles, 26.0 sacks, five forced fumbles, and two pass deflections. Also, Smith’s 60 QB hits since 2019 are second-most in the league during that period.

The post Za’Darius Smith Wants To Be a “Packer for Life” appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Cleveland Browns bolstered their pass-rush unit on Friday by acquiring veteran outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Browns sent fifth-round picks in (2024 and 2025) to Minnesota for Smith. As part of the agreement, Cleveland will also receive sixth-rounder and seventh-rounder in 2025.

According to Rapoport, Smith also reworked his contract which will guarantee him $11.75 million for this season and make him a free agent in 2024.

The Vikings signed Smith to a three-year, $42 million contract last offseason despite him playing just one game with the Green Bay Packers in 2021. The Kentucky product responded with a Pro Bowl year in which he delivered 10.0 sacks in 16 games while adding 44 tackles and career-high five deflections.

Despite a successful campaign, the likelihood of Smith staying with the Vikings always seemed bleak. The franchise reportedly started shopping the 30-year-old player as soon as they signed free agent outside linebacker Marcus Davenport early in the offseason.

Za’Darius Smith has 54.5 sacks since starting his NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens in 2015. He is among only five players in the league to get double digits in sacks in three of the past four seasons. The list also includes his new teammate, Browns’ superstar defensive end Myles Garrett.

The post Browns Acquire Pro Bowl Pass Rusher Za’Darius Smith From Vikings appeared first on SportzBonanza.

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.

The post Packers Release Pro Bowl OLB Za’Darius Smith appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Pro Bowl linebacker Za’Darius Smith left no doubt about where he wants to end his NFL career. The 28-year-old player went on Twitter on Wednesday and made sure everyone knows he wants to be “Packer for life.”

While Smith’s tweet seems unprompted, the statement might have something to do with reports that Green Bay are thinking about giving him an extension this offseason.

Smith still has two years left on a four-year, $66 million contract he signed with the Packers in 2019, but the organizations would benefit from giving him a new deal. The extension would keep one of their most prominent players on defense with the franchise long-term while also helping Green Bay with their salary cap situation.

Zach Kruse of Packers Wire writes that a new contract for Smith would free around $12.4 million in cap space for Green Bay. This money could then be used to keep free agents and improve the roster that made it to the NFC Championship last season.

Since swapping the Baltimore Ravens for the Packers, Za’Darius Smith has been a nightmare for the opposing offenses. He played all 32 games while producing 105 tackles, 26.0 sacks, five forced fumbles, and two pass deflections. Also, Smith’s 60 QB hits since 2019 are second-most in the league during that period.

The post Za’Darius Smith Wants To Be a “Packer for Life” appeared first on SportzBonanza.