Former Minnesota Vikings edge rusher Za’Darius Smith has become a mercenary late in his career and he reportedly has found another client in the Atlanta Falcons.
According to Josh Kendall of The Athletic, Smith has agreed to come out of retirement and sign a one-year deal with Atlanta.
While the Falcons’ pass-rush recorded 57 sacks and shut down the Vikings in a Week 2 matchup in Minneapolis last year, Atlanta has run into a crisis this year with Jalon Walker lost for the season due to a torn ACL and James Pearce Jr. suspended for eight games after violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
With 70.5 sacks over 11 seasons, Smith can certainly help the cause. But Vikings fans know that production comes with some serious risk, as Smith’s personality could have that gamble backfire at any moment.
Za’Darius Smith’s Minnesota Vikings exit was a warning sign for the rest of the NFL
The Vikings signed Smith ahead of the 2022 season and while defensive coordinator Ed Donatell dragged the group down, Smith was an impact addition, recording 44 total tackles, with 15 for loss and 10.0 sacks.
But although it was the first of several free-agent finds by former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, things turned ugly the following offseason when Smith wanted a revision on his three-year, $42 million contract.
Smith told Browns reporters in 2023 that the key issue was that only one year on that contract was guaranteed, and Smith wanted more guaranteed cash to continue in Minnesota. He also was frustrated with the incentives in his contract that required him to play each game to earn bonuses.
While Smith’s overall production would have validated meeting his demands, his production declined in the second half of the season as he played through a chronic knee injury, and the Vikings chose to move on although it wasn’t a clean divorce.
Smith posted a farewell message on his social media accounts when the decision was made, but the Vikings tried to find a trade due to the dead money on his contract.
The Vikings found a taker when the Cleveland Browns sent a 2024 fifth-round pick (used in a trade-up for J.J. McCarthy) and a 2025 fifth-round pick (Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins) to acquire Smith, but the Browns quickly found out what the Vikings and several other teams have learned as they looked to bolster their pass rush.
Za’Darius Smith is a pass-rushing mercenary after comeback with Atlanta Falcons
Looking back, Smith’s financial frustrations were a pattern dating back to the beginning of his career. After spending his first four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, Smith signed a four-year, $66 million contract in free agency with the Packers.
While he racked up 26.0 sacks in his first two seasons in Green Bay, he played just one game during the 2021 season due to a bulging disc, and his feuds with the medical staff, along with frustrations over not being named a team captain, led to his release.
After the Vikings, Smith’s behavioral patterns continued. He recorded 10.5 sacks over 25 games for the Browns but openly campaigned to be traded to the Detroit Lions ahead of the 2024 trade deadline in part to play the Vikings and Packers twice.
Smith’s request was granted, and he produced four sacks in eight games, but he was released again as the Lions avoided a $2 million roster bonus.
After campaigning to return to Detroit all summer, Smith signed with the Philadelphia Eagles last September. But after logging 1.5 sacks over five games, Smith retired for “personal reasons” and cited “wear-and-tear” on his body after 11 seasons.
It turns out, all it took was $6 million to change his mind. But the Falcons have to wonder how long the honeymoon period will last. Smith is still a productive pass-rusher, but if things don’t pan out in Atlanta – something that seems possible with a projected win total of 7.5 per DraftKings Sportsbook – it could be a matter of time until he looks for a trade or a financial incentive to stick around.
This isn’t a bad thing, as players have to look out for themselves. But Smith has shown he’s a mercenary with little loyalty toward his employer, which is a lesson the Vikings learned a long time ago.
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