Za'Darius Smith
LB - Cleveland Browns
2024 Outlook
Za'Darius Smith and the Browns have come to an agreement on a two-year, $23.5 million deal.
Fantasy Impact
Smith recorded 5.5 sacks last season. He'll continue to lineup alongside Myles Garrett on the defensive line for the Browns.
Za'Darius Smith is not practicing on Wednesday.
Fantasy Impact
Smith should return to practice on Thursday. He has recorded five tackles through the first three games of the season for the Browns.
Za'Darius Smith needed to be helped off of the field during Monday's game against the Steelers.
Fantasy Impact
Smith went down with a leg injury of some kind and needed to be helped off of the field. He was favoring one leg and not putting any weight on it, which isn't a good sign. It seems like a long shot for him to return to this game, and we'll likely get more info about his injury sometime in the next couple of days.
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Cleveland Browns are acquiring edge rusher Za’Darius Smith and 2025 sixth- and seventh-rounders from the Minnesota Vikings for a pair of fifth-round picks, one in 2024 and one in 2025.
Fantasy Impact
Smith settles in as the best pass rusher Cleveland has had opposite of Myles Garrett since the star edge rusher’s emergence into stardom. With Jadeveon Clowney no longer on the team, Smith, a three-time Pro Bowler, slots in as the team’s second edge rusher. Smith’s request to be released by Minnesota earlier this offseason largely got forgotten, but Smith got the new start he desired, joining the fourth team of his career. Despite the Vikings’ defensive struggles, Smith had double digits sacks for the third time in his career and 35-plus pressures for the fourth time in 2022. Smith, at the age of 30, is on the last year of his contract.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Minnesota Vikings edge rusher Za’Darius Smith has requested that the team release him, though the team intends on retaining the veteran pass rusher.
Fantasy Impact
Smith spent his first season in Minnesota after playing in Green Bay and Baltimore earlier in his career. Smith had 44 tackles, 15 for a loss, 24 QB hits and 10 sacks in 2022 on a Vikings defense that struggled. Minnesota ranked toward the bottom of the league in pass defense and releasing Smith would only hurt the team’s defense further. Smith is in Year 2 of a three-year deal.