Atlanta Falcons sign veteran Za’Darius Smith

The Atlanta Falcons have signed veteran defensive end Za’Darius Smith to a one-year contract worth approximately $6 million, with incentives that could increase the total to $8 million. The three-time Pro Bowler is coming out of retirement following a sudden departure from the NFL last season.

Smith’s arrival addresses critical depth issues in the Falcons' pass rush. The team recently lost Jalon Walker to a season-ending ACL injury and faces an eight-game suspension for James Pearce Jr. due to a violation of the league’s personal conduct policy. Smith reunites with Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski, who previously coached him during their time with the Cleveland Browns.

Over a 12-year career, Smith has played for several teams, including the Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, and Philadelphia Eagles. His career statistics include 70.5 sacks and 321 tackles across 145 games.