In an expected move, the Packers are moving on from their other Smith-named pass rusher. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Green Bay has released Za’Darius Smith (Twitter link). 
[RELATED: Packers Re-Sign Preston Smith]
ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds that the Packers were willing to keep Smith, 29 at the owed cash amount for the 2022 season, which was $15.75MM. However, this seems to be a mutual parting of ways for both parties, as the Packers get much-needed cap relief and Smith gets to hit the open market for the second time in his career.
While injuries limited him to a single game in 2021, Smith proved his worth to the Packers the previous two seasons he was there. After coming to Green Bay following his time in Baltimore, the former fourth rounder totalled 26 sacks in 2019 and 2020, earning Pro Bowl nods along the way both times. Given that production, as well as his age, he will likely command a lucrative third deal this offseason.
Since he was released prior to the beginning of the league year, Smith will not gain the Packers a compensatory pick when he signs elsewhere. That will add to the number of teams interested in his services, putting Smith at or near the top of a free agent edge rusher class which already includes other established sack artists like Von Miller and Chandler Jones.
In related news, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweets that the Packers are releasing right tackle Billy Turner. The 30-year-old had spent the past three seasons in Green Bay, but he will likewise begin the search for a new home.
With these two moves, the Packers have trimmed roughly $18.5MM off of their cap. The team has more work to be done to become cap compliant, but the bulk of that effort is now finished.
as much as I would like him on the Jets, he’s definitely going back to the Ravens
Well, that was inevitable. Really good player, helped the Lafleur regime start off strong. You just can’t pay that much to a guy on the wrong side of 30 who played one game last year, especially in a tight cap situation. But he gave them time for Gary to develop, and hopefully he’s healthy enough to still shine somewhere else.
Also can’t really pay that much when you’re hamstrung by a ridiculous contract for your selfish quarterback.
Back to back MVPs dont come cheap.
You have no clue what that contract looks like. Or if it will actually get signed (since literally no one connected to the team or nfl has reported anything beyond the silly 4/$200 from…who exactly? The same clowns who insisted he was absolutely, 110% getting traded to Denver.
Do you think the nflpa would allow Rodgers to take some bargain basement contract?
Who said anything about a bargain basement contract?
There’s salary cap money, and non-salary cap money. He gets paid, but a lot of it won’t count against the TEAM salary cap.
And if the nflpa was going to make an issue of someone giving a discount, they would have done it with Brady, since everyone seems to think he practically played for free the past 20 years.
Never pay big bucks for a player with a back injury in their history. They never return to being the same as before the injury.
Gronk seems to have done pretty well.. he injured his in college
Impact player when he wanted to be but a drama queen who wasn’t really missed in 2021. Whoever signs him look forward to all the times he “needs” help off the field then returns a play later. And won’t pursue downfield once a play is behind him, there is a reason players didn’t vote him captain last year.
Man, people who’ve never hit anything but a keyboard love calling NFL players drama queens about injuries.
To be fair we played low level high school football so we know exactly what we are talking about.
If you watched Packers games you would know what I’m talking about. I don’t call everyone a drama queen. Z was in a class of his own. But feel free to judge me.
I’d like to know, as a Packers fan that watches every game, what he did on the field that made him a “drama queen?” He came to the organization and helped build a fun culture on the defense. Last off-season he wanted to come back with a new contract. They didn’t see eye to eye on that. He put out a few tweets and that’s it.
Nothing. Some people just insist he faked the back injury because he didn’t like that they restructured his contract last year.
Get him back ravens
Love Za’Darius but he played in 1 regular season game and the playoff loss. The Packers won 13 games without him. This is a salary cap league so you can’t keep everyone. The release of Billy Turner was more substantial because his versatility saved them from multiple injury issues during the season. Again, can’t keep them all.