Za'Darius Smith Signs Eagles Contract After Win vs. Cowboys in Week 1

Former Detroit Lions defensive end Za'Darius Smith is signing with the Philadelphia Eagles ahead of Week 2 of the 2025 NFL season, the team announced Friday.

Smith's one-year deal is worth up to $9 million, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz.

Schultz reported that Smith had already passed a physical prior to the announcement of his signing.

Fullback Ben VanSumeren, who was injured Thursday night during the Eagles' Week 1 win over the Dallas Cowboys, was placed on injured reserve in a corresponding move.

The Lions acquired Smith at last season's trade deadline in order to address the absence of injured pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson.

Smith was playing at the time on a two-year, $23 million deal he signed with the Cleveland Browns.

The Lions gained $5.7 million in cap space by releasing Smith in March before the activation of a $6.99 million option bonus on the contract, per Spotrac.

Smith told USA Today's Tyler Dragon in June that "hopefully I can get back to where I want to be in Detroit."

But Smith remained unsigned in the final week of the offseason, and Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday on Detroit's 97.1 The Ticket (h/t Audacy's Will Burchfield) that he thought his team's pass rush was "good right now" with the return of Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport.

The Lions will now hope for healthy seasons from their starters, while the Eagles will look to bolster their own pass rush with a veteran who recorded 9.0 sacks for the Browns and Lions last season.

Smith tied for 12th in the NFL with 63 pressures in 2024 despite being traded midseason, per Pro Football Focus.

In the eight games after his trade to the Lions, Smith ranked fourth in the NFL with 34 quarterback pressures and fifth with a 16.7 percent quarterback pressure rate, per Next Gen Stats (h/t the team's website).

The Eagles will hope more stability alongside Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt will lead to an even bigger year for Smith in 2025, starting with next Sunday's Super Bowl rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.