The Philadelphia Eagles have been relentless in their quest to put together the best possible roster for the 2025 season. After winning Super Bowl LIX last year, they were one of the busiest teams across the league over the offseason, and that has carried over to the new year. One of their latest moves saw them sign veteran defensive lineman Za’Darius Smith in free agency.
Over the offseason, the Eagles lost several key pieces of their defensive line, with guys like Milton Williams, Josh Sweat, and Brandon Graham all no longer with the team. With Philadelphia looking for an extra pass-rushing boost on their d-line, that led them to Smith, who recently shed light on his decision to sign with the reigning Super Bowl champs.
Za’Darius Smith Explains Why He Signed with Eagles in Free Agency
Smith initially broke into the league as a fourth-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft with the Baltimore Ravens. Initially used as a pass rush specialist, Smith gradually took on a bigger role during his time with the Ravens, and after he racked up 8.5 sacks in a contract year in 2018, he earned a four-year, $66 million contract from the Green Bay Packers in free agency.
In his first two seasons with the Packers, Smith took a major leap forward, earning a pair of Pro Bowl selections and a spot on the All-Pro Second Team in 2020. A back injury derailed his progress, though, as he missed virtually the entire 2021 campaign before getting released at the end of the year. Smith latched on with the Minnesota Vikings, and he ended up turning in another Pro Bowl campaign when he returned to action in 2022.
Since then, Smith has spent time with the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions, and while he remained a free agent for quite a while this offseason, it wasn’t because of a lack of suitors. Ultimately, Smith revealed he felt most comfortable signing with the Eagles, and it’s clear he’s hoping to help them repeat as Super Bowl champions this season.
“I had a lot of teams calling, but I just felt comfortable with coming to Philly,” Smith said when speaking to reporters on Wednesday. “I know Ogbo (Okoronkwo), we was together there in Cleveland. I talked to him, and he was just telling me about the organization, the locker room, and the great people here … Just this whole team and the culture, I love everything about it. And hey, they just got a Super Bowl, and hopefully we can go get it again.”
Za’Darius Smith Looking to Hit the Ground Running for the Eagles
GettyFormer Detroit Lions defensive end Za’Darius Smith.
In 2024, Smith picked up 35 tackles, nine sacks, and one pass deflection, proving that even as he gets older, he still can be quite productive. The Eagles will be looking for Smith to jump into their lineup and make an impact right away, especially when considering they will be taking on the Kansas City Chiefs in a Super Bowl LIX rematch in Week 2.
For now, Smith is just trying to get his legs back underneath him, but it’s going to take some time. Once he does, though, there’s a good chance he will quickly prove why the team made such a push to sign him in free agency. Smith’s involvement in Philly’s defensive game plan will be one of the top storylines worth keeping tabs on when they take the field on Sunday.
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