After many rumors and discussions, Za’Darius Smith was thrust into the 2022 NFL free agency limelight at the start of the legal tampering period. Coming off a season in which he played just two games and had 1 sack, the market so far has been understandably slow. However, with the edge rusher market set to be in the spotlight in the next couple of days, where are some predictions for where Smith could end up this offseason?
Update: Za’Darius Smith has signed with the Baltimore Ravens
Predictions for Za’Darius Smith in the 2022 NFL free agency period
Smith is in a really tough position this offseason. The Packers released him after a season in which he only played one game. The good news for Smith is that he did at least manage to get back on the field in the playoffs, where he got his sole sack of the year. That at least points to him being healthy and able to make an impact in a major game.
He heads into free agency coming off a contract that was supposed to be four years for $66 million. He ended up leaving just over $15 million of that on the table, but the average of $16.5 million is significant. Spotrac currently has Smith’s market value at around the same level ($16.7 million per year).
Given he had 26 total sacks through his first two seasons in Green Bay, the talent is undeniably there to make him worth a contract of that size. The question is whether a slow progressing edge rusher market will allow him to earn that type of deal. Let’s take a look at some predictions for where Smith could end up this offseason.
Baltimore Ravens
The one team we have seen linked to Smith is the Ravens. This was reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero not long after Smith was released. In his tweet, Pelissero said that multiple teams were pursuing Smith, but so far that has not led to a signing. The Ravens have a clear need for an edge rusher. Matthew Judon departed last offseason. Meanwhile, both Justin Houston and Pernell McPhee are free agents in 2022.
Therefore, with Tyus Bowser and Odafe Oweh as the two recognized pass rushers, it would not be a surprise to see the Ravens look to add someone. So far, Baltimore has added safety Marcus Williams and right tackle Morgan Moses. As the free agency market develops, could we see the Ravens turn to the defensive side of the ball in the next 24 hours?
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys just had Randy Gregory pull a big U-turn on them based on the language that had been proposed in his contract. That has suddenly left the Cowboys with a gaping hole at pass rusher. They had been willing to give Gregory as much as $14 million a year. It will be intriguing to see what they do with that money now.
The likes of Chandler Jones and Von Miller are still available. Meanwhile, Smith has more sacks in the past three years than Gregory has had in his entire career. That would make the Cowboys’ negotiations with Smith difficult. How do they tell Smith he is worth less than Gregory when he has more than double the number of career sacks?
New York Jets
The Jets are expected to be a team that jumps into the free agency market for an edge rusher. On Tuesday, PFN NFL Insider and Chief Draft Analyst Tony Pauline reported that the Jets added their name to the mix for Jones. However, in the same report, Pauline said that the team had not entered the market for Smith.
Of course, that could change in the coming days. The Jets have a clear need for a pass rusher to complement John Franklin-Myers, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Carl Lawson’s return from injury. If they miss out on Jones and Smith is still available, the Jets have the cap space to pay the expected asking price for a player who is a proven pass rusher.
Chicago Bears
Another team with cap space and a pass-rush need is the Chicago Bears. The departure of Khalil Mack through a trade to the Chargers has opened up a need. The Bears have had a close-up look at Smith twice a year in recent seasons and could move to him as a replacement for Mack. While an AAV north of $15 million might seem pricey, it would be significantly less than they were paying Mack.
A combination of Smith and Robert Quinn would be extremely intriguing. Opposing offenses would have to choose which of the two prominent pass rushers to prioritize and it could open up opportunities for both. The Bears pride themselves on their defense, and adding Smith would ensure it remains one of their strengths.