The Detroit Lions traded for Za’Darius Smith last season. However, he is now a free agent and remains unsigned. He could join the Chicago Bears in the final wave of free agency.
Smith signed a two-year, $23 million deal with the Cleveland Browns in 2024. After a 5.5 sack campaign in 2023, he had nine sacks last season. Four of his sacks came with the Lions. However, the team released him after the season to create cap space, and Pro Football Network’s Sterling Xie urged the Bears to sign him.
“The Bears have a solid starting group on the defensive line, thanks to free agent additions Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo and second-rounder Shemar Turner,” wrote Xie. “However, the depth is a little thin, particularly on the edge behind Odeyingbo and Montez Sweat. Adding Smith could not only control the snap counts of the starters but also allow defensive coordinator Dennis Allen to get creative with his pass rush packages.
“Both Smith and Odeyingbo have experience rushing from the interior in sub-packages, but it might not be possible for Odeyingbo to kick inside on passing downs if the Bears don’t have a third edge rusher they trust,” Xie continued. “Rolling out a third-down package with Sweat and Smith on the edges and Odeyingbo and Gervon Dexter Sr. or Turner on the interior would make the Bears more versatile and dangerous in the pass rush department.”
Smith has played for all NFC North teams besides the Bears. He is a three-time Pro Bowler and has 24.5 sacks in the last three years. His best years came with the Green Bay Packers when he was named a Pro Bowler twice and had 26 sacks in two seasons.
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The 32-year-old is going into his 11th year and is not as dominant as he once was. However, he can be a great piece for the Bears in a division full of his former teams.
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