Rumors are swirling that the Vikings could trade OLB Za'Darius Smith this offseason. Who are a few teams that could be interested?
Shortly after the playoff loss to the New York Giants, that ended the Minnesota Vikings 2022 season, Za'Darius Smith went on social media and said his goodbyes to the fans. He also put his Minnesota home on the market, effectively cutting ties with the Vikings.
It didn't take long for the Vikings to come out and announce they had no plans to release or trade Smith, and four months later, he is still a member of the team.
They didn't move him in the draft and haven't cut him either. It's very possible the Vikings could continue to dig their heels into the mud, hold their ground, and see how ugly this situation gets. Or they could decide to see what they can get for Smith, realizing that having a disgruntled player on the roster could be toxic to the locker room and be a distraction.
There have been rumors that the Vikings could explore trade options for Smith. The question is, what teams may be interested?
Here are five potential landing spots for Za'Darius Smith if the Vikings end up trading him.
Team No. 1 who could trade for Minnesota Vikings OLB Za'Darius Smith
Baltimore Ravens
Perhaps the Vikings send Smith back to where he originally came from. Za'Darius Smith started his career with the Baltimore Ravens, having played there his first four seasons in the league.
The Ravens are always eager to add pass rushers to their defensive front and almost signed Smith last season in free agency. They apparently had a deal in place, and it was announced that he'd be returning home. Things fell through, and Smith ended up signing with the Vikings. It's unclear what happened in those negotiations, but if the Ravens trade for him, Smith wouldn't be able to back out again.
The Ravens do have a need for Za'Darius Smith. They have a couple of young pass rushers on the roster in Odafe Oweh, David Ojabo, and rookie Tavius Robinson.
Oweh hasn't quite developed into the impact edge rusher the team has been hoping for, and Ojabo finally got on the field late in his rookie season after recovering from an ACL injury. Smith could be a mentor both on and off the field and really expedite the progression of these three young players.
The Vikings could be up for it because it would be trading Smith out of the conference. They won't have to worry about upgrading an NFC opponent or have to face a motivated Smith who would be out for revenge in a 2023 meeting.
Team No. 2 who could trade for Minnesota Vikings OLB Za'Darius Smith
Seattle Seahawks
The Vikings would rather not trade Za'Darius Smith to a team in the NFC, but perhaps if one gave them the right offer, they'd bite. The Seattle Seahawks were widely applauded for their moves in the 2023 NFL Draft.
They landed the best cornerback in the class with Devon Witherspoon and also scored the best wide receiver in Jaxon Smith-Njigba. They were a playoff team a season ago, and after their solid draft, many believe they can go even deeper in 2023.
To help them get there, adding another veteran pass rusher could come in quite handy. The Seahawks have two good ones in Darrell Taylor and Uchenna Nwosu, but behind them are nothing but unproven younglings.
Having Smith on the roster would give them a veteran backup/rotation piece that wouldn't just provide insurance but can also keep the other two fresh. It would be a three-headed monster that could terrorize NFC opponents.
Picturing Za'Darius Smith in a Seahawks uniform isn't a hard thing to do. Players seem to love playing out there and Smith would be part of a unit that could restore the Seahawks to having a tough defense the way they did in their Super Bowl years.
Team No. 3 who could trade for Minnesota Vikings OLB Za'Darius Smith
Kansas City Chiefs
Would it shock anyone to see the defending Super Bowl Champions make a move that increases their chances for a repeat in 2023? It could very well happen, and that move could be trading for veteran pass rusher Za'Darius Smith.
At first blush, it may seem that Smith wouldn't be a great fit for the Chiefs' base 4-3 defense. It would require him to rush with his hand in the dirt, and while he can do that, he's much more effective rushing from two legs. Steve Spagnuolo does mix up his fronts, and while 4-3 is their base, he provides many different looks and formations, and Smith could see plenty of snaps while playing standing up.
The Chiefs did upgrade at defensive end with their first-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah but could look for a veteran who can teach him the ropes and lead by example. Smith could fill that role nicely, and he could even replace the Chiefs free agent signing Charles Omenihu, who could see punishment from the league for his misdemeanor domestic violence charge.
If the Chiefs want to stay on top of the NFL, they can't get complacent. Making a splashy trade for a pass rusher like Za'Darius Smith would definitely help their chances of a repeat.
Team No. 4 who could trade for Minnesota Vikings OLB Za'Darius Smith
Denver Broncos
Sean Payton takes over the Denver Broncos after the disastrous one-year reign of Nathaniel Hackett. Payton will want to be competitive right out of the gate, as he's an arrogant fool who will do anything for a victory. That could include making a June trade for a still very productive edge rusher like Za'Darius Smith.
The Broncos are currently the bottom feeders in the AFC West. The Raiders are a close second, but everything went wrong for Denver in 2022, and they'll want to get that horrible taste out of their mouths. If they are going to stand a chance in a conference full of explosive offenses, they'll have to get after the passer.
Their top two edge rushers aren't overly impressive. Baron Browning is entering his third season and has five career sacks. Randy Gregory is a battle-tested veteran, but he has never had more than six sacks in a season. Smith would come in and be the top dog in the edge rusher room and would likely start opposite Gregory.
The Broncos may be willing to part with a mid-round pick in next year's draft to add an edge rusher with the talent of Za'Darius Smith. If they don't, they could be in for another tough season.
Team No. 5 who could trade for Minnesota Vikings OLB Za'Darius Smith
New England Patriots
One can never rule the Patriots out when it comes to trading for a veteran. Bill Belichick has done it in the past, and perhaps after mini-camps and OTAs are over, he could decide he needs one more edge rusher and gives the Vikings a call regarding Za'Darius Smith's availability.
Matthew Judon is a stallion who just had a 15.5 sack season. The Patriots also have Josh Uche, who is coming off an 11.5 sack season, and they drafted Keion White. On paper, it may look like there isn't a need, but teams can never have enough good pass rushers, and Belichick knows this.
Another factor that could favor the Patriots making this deal is that the AFC East is winnable. Other teams are closing in on the Bills, and while they are still the favorite to take the crown, it will be a very interesting division battle to watch as these other teams have improved. Aaron Rodgers also enters the division, and who is one player who loves playing against and sacking Aaron Rodgers? That would be Za'Darius Smith.
While the need on paper may not be huge, if the compensation is right, the Patriots could be a wild card team to trade for Za'Darius Smith.