We are now well past the beginning of free agency, so many of the top options are off the market.
However, there are still several quality players still looking for teams. One of those players is veteran edge rusher Za’Darius Smith, who was released by the Detroit Lions at the beginning of March.
Smith is past his prime and will turn 33 during the 2025 season. However, Smith is still a quality player who racked up nine sacks and played in all 17 games in 2024.
Jarrett Bailey of Touchdown Wire recently identified the best fits for each of the remaining free agents. For Smith, Bailey identified the Ravens as a logical fit.
Regarding the potential Smith-Ravens reunion, Bailey offered the following:
From one former Ravens draft pick to another. This is such a Ravens move that I’m surprised it hasn’t happened already. Baltimore has made similar signings to veteran defenders over the years that have largely been beneficial. Elvis Dumervil, Eric Weddle, Calais Campbell, Kyle Van Noy just to name a few. Za’Darius Smith was very productive last year with the Cleveland Browns and Lions, respectively, totaling nine sacks on the season. Baltimore has a need at the position, so why not bring back their former fourth-round pick who can still play good football?
In 2024, Smith played in nine games with the Cleveland Browns and eight with the Lions. The veteran collected 35 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and nine sacks. Pro Football Focus gave Smith a 74.7 overall grade, which ranked 33rd out of 211 qualified edge rushers.
The Ravens could certainly stand to add another pass-rusher. Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh both collected double-digit sacks last season, but there’s not much proven depth behind that duo.
Smith originally came into the league as a fourth-round pick of the Ravens in 2015. The defender played his first four seasons with the team and racked up 119 tackles, 18.5 sacks, and 24 tackles for loss.
The Ravens would be familiar with Smith and, as Bailey mentioned, this is the type of move the Ravens have made in the past. Van Noy and Calais Campbell are just a few aging veterans the Ravens brought in over the last few years.
Over the Cap has the Ravens currently sitting at around $11 million in cap space, so adding Smith is plausible. The veteran was slated to play out the final year of a two-year, $23 million deal in 2025 before being cut by the Lions.
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