Za'Darius Smith Works Out with New Team After Browns Contract Rumors in NFL Free Agency

Za'Darius Smith may not be joining the Cleveland Browns after all.

Daniel Flick of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Monday that Smith worked out with the Atlanta Falcons, who are "looking for external help" at the defensive end position.

The update comes after Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported Sunday the Browns were expected to sign him after hosting him for a tryout.

Cleveland could certainly use more help in the pass-rush department after trading arguably the league's top defensive end in Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams this offseason. Jared Verse, who came to the Browns as part of that trade, even discussed what adding Smith would mean to him and the team.

"Having that vet presence is something I look forward to," he said. "… Those old dogs, they know a lot more than anybody like me."

Yet it seems like the Falcons are now in the running, which makes sense considering they too need more depth in their pass-rush.

After all, Jalon Walker will miss the entire 2026 campaign due to a torn ACL, and James Pearce Jr. is suspended for the first eight games of the season.

Smith would provide depth for either team, but he will also turn 34 years old next month and played just five games during the 2025 campaign for the Philadelphia Eagles.

He then announced his retirement in October.

Given the abrupt retirement and his age, it may be unrealistic to expect him to perform like he did at his peak when he was a Pro Bowler in 2019 and 2020 for the Green Bay Packers and again in 2022 for the Minnesota Vikings.

Still, he isn't that far removed from posting nine sacks during the 2024 season with the Browns and Detroit Lions. The Browns and Falcons saw enough to work him out, and it now remains to be seen which team, if either, he joins.