NFL Free Agency: Falcons Sign Browns' Za'Darius Smith?
While priority No. 1 for the Atlanta Falcons from a player personnel sense this offseason will be stabilizing the quarterback position, a not-so-distant second need will be an edge rusher. And a new piece suggests a potential veteran option that Atlanta could consider when free agency begins.
USA Today
Pro Football Focus recently released a list of one free agent that would make sense for each team, and believes that veteran pass rusher Za'Darius Smith would be a strong fit for the Falcons.
"The Falcons struggled to generate much pressure off the edge in 2023, and while they will be encouraged by Arnold Ebiketie’s development in his second NFL season, a veteran presence would be a wise addition," PFF wrote. "Smith has earned an 84.0 PFF pass-rushing grade or better in each of his past four seasons with at least 100 pass-rushing snaps."
After splitting the first seven seasons of his career between the Baltimore Ravens and Green Bay Packers, the 31-year-old Smith is likely in the hired gun stage of his career. He had 10 sacks for the Minnesota Vikings in 2022, which earned him a one-year/$11.7 million deal with the Cleveland Browns this past offseason. Smith was once again productive, recording 27 combined tackles, 20 quarterback hits, eight tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks and a forced fumble in Jim Schwartz's defense.
Smith and Jadeveon Clowney would be two veteran free-agent options that could potentially replace Calais Campbell, if the 37-year-old either isn't re-signed or retires.
Until we know who will be coaching the Falcons and leading the team from a front office perspective, it's difficult to speculate on schematic fits. It feels increasingly like former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick could be the choice to fill at least the former vacancy, if not both. Smith just had success under Schwartz, whose NFL coaching career began with the Browns under Belichick in the mid-1990s. Perhaps one of Belichick's former "slappies" could lend some additional insight into Smith's potential fit in the six-time Super Bowl Champion's defense.
