Cowboys Source: Renewed 'Interest' in Signing Pass-Rusher Za'Darius Smith, Who Spurns Ravens
FRISCO - It's Za’Darius Smith's turn.
The Dallas Cowboys did not get it done with pass-rusher Randy Gregory, as they endured him "pulling a U-turn on them'' based on the language that had been proposed in his contract.
They did not get it done with Von Miller, even as the two sides touched base, as the DFW native skipped the Rams, too, to sign with Buffalo
Chandler Jones? We don't know that Dallas ever took a swing there, but he is reportedly preparing to join the Las Vegas Raiders.
Jan 30, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams linebacker Von Miller hoists the George Halas Trophy after defeating the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 13, 2022; Inglewood, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams linebacker Von Miller (40) celebrates after sacking Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) during Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
So, all of this means the Cowboys have been working to fill a gaping hole at pass rusher. Dorance Armstrong is coming back. Dante Fowler is coming in.
Remember ... Thanks to the DeMarcus Lawrence re-do, the Cowboys put themselves in a position to give Gregory as much as $14 million a year.
So there is some money to be spent.
Za’Darius Smith is coming off an awful year with the Green Bay Packers, a season in which due to a training camp back injury he played just two games and had just one sack. But at 29, the 6-4, 272-pound defensive end and two-time Pro Bowler has a recent history of performing at a level, statistically, even higher than Gregory.
In 2018, he has 8.5 sacks for the Ravens, and then got a Packers contract - from a team coached by Mike McCarthy, now in charge in Dallas - that was supposed to be four years for $66 million.
In 2019, he earned that money with 13.5 sacks.
In 2020, he did it again in Green Bay with 12.5 sacks.
That's 34.5 sacks in three years - something Gregory has never even come close to achieving.
That was an idea for a moment ... But on Wednesday it is announced that Smith is signing a four-year, $35 million deal to return to the Ravens.
Except. ... He's not.
Feb 13, 2022; Inglewood, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams linebacker Von Miller (40) celebrates after sacking Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) during Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dallas was "exploring'' the concept before. And now that Smith has unplugged from the Ravens (maybe because he saw Miller's money?), he's available again.
And a source tells CowboysSI.com that the Cowboys have renewed "interest.''
The Cowboys habitually do not buy other teams' big-money free agents, preferring to "sign our own.'' What needs to be explored is whether the Gregory fiasco alters the Dallas front office's thinking - especially now that they might get another shot at Smith.
