The Atlanta Falcons signed veteran edge rusher Za’Darius Smith to a one-year contract on Tuesday, adding a proven pass rusher to a group that has been severely depleted by injury and suspension over the past two weeks.
Smith, 33, will earn $6 million on the deal. He played last season with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he had 1.5 sacks in five games, but his career numbers are substantial. He has 70.5 career sacks, three seasons with double-digit totals and a career high of 13.5 sacks with the Green Bay Packers in 2019. He also had nine sacks combined between the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions in 2024. He is a former second-team All-Pro.
He previously played under Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski during his time with the Browns in 2023 and 2024, giving the two an established working relationship heading into training camp.
Why Atlanta needed a pass rusher urgently
The Falcons entered the offseason as one of the more dangerous pass-rushing teams in the NFL after recording a franchise-record 57 sacks last season. That foundation has eroded rapidly. Jalon Walker, who had 5.5 sacks last season as a rookie, tore his ACL in practice and will miss the entire 2026 season. James Pearce Jr., who led the team with 10.5 sacks, was suspended by the NFL for the first eight games of 2026 following a domestic violence arrest in February.
Together, the two rookies accounted for 16 of Atlanta’s franchise-record sack total. Replacing that production before the season begins has become one of the Falcons’ most pressing priorities.
Who Smith joins on the roster
He will join a group of edge rushers the Falcons have assembled on one-year deals during the offseason, including Samson Ebukam, Azeez Ojulari and Cameron Thomas. Smith adds a fourth experienced pass rusher with a track record of double-digit sack seasons.
The Falcons also have Bralen Trice, who has yet to appear in a regular-season NFL game after tearing his ACL in each of his first two professional seasons. Brandon Dorlus had 8.5 sacks last season as an interior lineman and has been working this summer in a more edge-oriented role.
What Smith’s addition changes
The signing does not fully replace Walker and Pearce. Walker was one of the more talented young pass rushers in the league based on his rookie production, and Pearce’s suspension means the Falcons will not have their leading sacker for the first half of the season.
His low sack total last season with Philadelphia raises questions about what he has remaining at 33, but his 2024 nine-sack performance across two teams suggests the talent has not completely eroded. The Falcons are betting that the right system and familiarity with Stefanski can produce a version of Smith closer to his 2024 form than his 2025 output.
Losing those two players before a game has been played is a significant setback. Smith is the most notable piece added to address it.
