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Za’Darius Smith leaves Green Bay Packers for new NFL home
By Keith Farner
Published:
Za’Darius Smith has made himself into a reliable pass rusher in the NFL, and now he’s landed a new deal after the Green Bay Packers released him earlier this week.
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported that Smith has agreed to a 4-year $35 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens.
A reliable defensive lineman, Smith played in 33 games with 32 starts over the last 3 regular seasons for Green Bay and started 4 of 5 postseason contests he played in. He was named to the Pro Bowl twice (2019-20), earned second-team All-Pro honors from The Associated Press (2020) and was named to the All-NFC team by the Pro Football Writers of America (2020).
Source: Former #Packers pass-rusher Za’Darius Smith is headed to the #Ravens. They get their big-ticket rusher. He gets a 4-year deal worth $35M.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2022
Smith has made a solid career for himself after he was a JUCO transfer to Kentucky and in 2013, he started every game at defensive end, and tied for third on the team in tackles with 59, including 6.5 tackles for loss and 6 sacks. Smith also had a team-best 6 quarterback hurries, 1 fumble recovery and a pass breakup.
This latest contract is a return to Baltimore where Smith began his career and during a contract year with a then-career-high 8.5 sacks in 2018. Smith left the Ravens and signed a four-year, $66 million deal to join the Packers, per the NFL Network.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
