Green Bay Packers fans are hungry and interested in where the team is going. After one whole year of uncertainty (a long time, right?) the Packers have their guy and some optimism for the future.
There’s a lot of young talent on the team, with Jordan Love helping the ship at QB. There’s also Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and many other guys who are leading the youth revolution, so to speak.
With that being said, it wouldn’t hurt to add more veterans. Josh Jacobs, Xavier McKinney and Rashan Gary certainly have enough experience under their belt to guide the younger guys, but the more vets the merrier in this situation.
While the Packers may have been intent on pursuing Chris Jones and Patrick Queen to fill that role, they’re officially signed to other teams. There’s someone who just recently re-signed with the team he joined last year, but odds are he’ll possibly be on the trading block before too long.
What Has Za’darius Smith Been Up To?
After a somewhat disappointing (but still memorable) tenure in Green Bay, the bruising edge rusher skipped town to return to the Baltimore Ravens.
Of course that never happened as Smith backed out of a big deal with Baltimore in 2022. It’s absurd to think what the man could have done as a member of this year’s Ravens defense
After Von Miller increased the edge rusher market, Smith backed out and decided to sign a better deal with the Minnesota Vikings.
What looked like a revenge match made in heaven turned out to be bittersweet for Minnesota, as Smith requested a trade after just one good but underwhelming season. He notched 10 sacks but didn’t do too well down the stretch, playing a part in the Vikings Wild Card collapse against the Giants.
Smith demanded a trade because he didn’t like the contract he got. Minnesota dealt him to Cleveland, and despite the Browns having arguably the best defense in the league last year, Za’darius only notched 5 sacks starting 16 games. He resigned with Cleveland yesterday, but only to the tune of $12 million guaranteed. Considering how much he’s moved teams and his low number of sacks, he’s still an option on the table if things start out slowly for him with the Browns.
The Pros And Cons Of Green Bay Trading For Za’darius Smith
While there are more negatives than positives for sure, there are still some reasons why Green Bay might bring back the free-agent veteran.
Number one is the veteran leadership Smith brings. Za’darius has spent a lot of time in the NFL playing for some of the league’s top defenses over the last decades. That includes the Ravens, Packers, and Browns.
Smith’s football IQ is insanely high and has only gotten better with age. He can teach and lead a young group of talented but unproven players, passing the torch to the next generation of Packers players on his way out.
He’s been a lot healthier than people on the internet would lead you to believe, not missing any games due to health since he left Green Bay. He would also be much cheaper than he was during his previous Packers tenure, definitely costing less than or around $10 million.
But the cons are certainly there. He’s getting up there in age, and his 5 sacks last year are proof for any detractors. They’ll certainly kick the tires if Smith winds up on the trading block, and a future reunion is certainly on the table – much more than Packers fans think. Maybe this isn’t even a possible 2024 move, but a 2025 or 2026 move.
