Eight months ago, Za’Darius Smith said he was done. Apparently the couch did not agree with him.
The Philadelphia Eagles released the three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher from their Reserve/Retired list on Wednesday, clearing the way for him to sign with any team that wants a veteran edge rusher with a career sack count north of 70. The move only happens if the player initiates it. That means Smith has gone back to his agent and told him to start working the phones.
Smith retired in October 2025 after one month with the Eagles. The Eagles had signed him as a midseason rental, expecting him to provide pass-rush help during a Super Bowl push. He played five games. He had two sacks. Then he walked away, citing a desire to spend more time with family.
That sentiment lasted about as long as the football season did. By the spring, his name was popping up in rumor columns. Now the paperwork is done and he is a free agent again.
Smith will be 34 in September. That is old for a pass rusher, but not ancient. The current NFL has a long list of edge rushers playing at a high level into their mid-30s. Cam Jordan, Demarcus Lawrence, and Calais Campbell have all extended their careers well past the age Smith is now. The position is built around technique and burst more than pure athleticism, and Smith still has both when he is engaged.
The career resume speaks for itself. Smith has been a Pro Bowler with three different teams (Packers, Vikings, Browns). He has 73 career sacks across stops in Baltimore, Green Bay, Minnesota, Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia. He has been a productive edge rusher in every system he has played in.
So who signs him? The smart money is on Minnesota.
Smith spent the 2022 season with the Vikings and put up 10 sacks. His agent, David Mulugheta, also represents new Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray. That kind of agent connection matters more than fans think. Mulugheta has been pushing hard on his clients with Minnesota since the Murray signing, and the Vikings have a pass-rush need with Danielle Hunter aging.
The Lions could also be in play. They had Smith on the roster for part of 2024. Their pass rush has been inconsistent and they are about to start paying Aidan Hutchinson big money. Adding a veteran rotational piece on a one-year deal makes sense for a team that thinks it is one move away.
The Eagles do not appear to be circling back. Philadelphia has Bryce Huff, Nolan Smith, and Jalyx Hunt on the edge. They paid Smith the first time around because they thought they were a Super Bowl team. They no longer feel that way after a disappointing 2025 season.
The bigger question is whether Smith has anything left after a year off. Edge rushers who take a season off and come back usually look slower in their first month. The body adjusts but the timing takes a while. Whoever signs him will need to be patient through training camp.
The smarter franchises will sign him to a one-year deal at a reasonable price, treat him as a rotational piece, and let him rebuild his market for 2027. If he plays well, he gets one more contract. If he does not, he retires for real this time.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
