The Philadelphia Eagles are signing free agent edge rusher Za’Darius Smith to a one-year contract, according to an official announcement by the team. NFL insider Jordan Schultz says the deal has “upside to $9 million.”
Smith, who turns 33 years old on September 8, is a three-time Pro Bowler who has played for the Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, and Detroit Lions before landing in Philly.
He’s certainly been a productive pass rusher over the course of his career with 69 sacks (nice) in 140 total regular season games played. Most of his production has come since becoming a full-time starter in 2019; he’s logged 50.5 sacks in 80 games since then.
Smith produced nine sacks in 2024 while beginning the season on the Browns before getting traded to the Lions.
With the Eagles losing Brandon Graham to retirement, they were understandably in the market for pass rush help this offseason. The early returns on free agent signing Joshua Uche are positive but Azeez Ojulari and Ogbo Okoronkwo were healthy scratches in Week 1. The former has an especially invisible summer for the most part.
The Eagles’ pass rush wasn’t very effective in Week 1 against a questionable Dallas Cowboys offensive line; Vic Fangio’s defense produced zero sacks and just one quarterback hit on Dak Prescott. Smith is here to help bolster that unit. It’ll likely be him, Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, and the aforementioned Uche serving as the top four edge rushers.
Good signing by Howie Roseman, who is never done adding talent to this roster.
In a corresponding move, the Eagles placed Ben VanSumeren on injured reserve. Tough for the fullback to get hurt on the very first play of the 2025 season.
0 CommentsSee More:
