Tag: Za’Darius Smith

NFL Rumors: Za’Darius Smith returning to Browns on two-year deal

The Browns are on the board as Za’Darius Smith returns on a two-year deal

With NFL rumors flying all over the place, the Cleveland Browns are reportedly on the board. Welcome back, Za’Darius Smith!

According to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, the Browns have re-signed their starting defensive end to a two-year deal. The deal has a base of $11.75 million per year and can become worth a total of $25 million in total with incentives.

Smith was a key piece of the Cleveland defense, a unit that churned out top-of-the-league production during the 2023 season. All-in-all, Smith finished the season with 5.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss. He totaled a massive 61 pressures, for the Browns as well while playing opposite of NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett.

This is the first move the Browns have made this free agency after trading for wide receiver Jerry Jeudy before the start of the legal tampering period. The Browns now keep intact their defensive end rotation of Garrett, Smith, Ogbo Okoronkwo, and Alex Wright.

6 Edge rushers Minnesota Vikings could target in free agency

With Danielle Hunter and Marcus Davenport set to hit the free agent market, the Minnesota Vikings need to fill those holes. Here are six options.

Defense was the name of the game for the Minnesota Vikings for much of the 2023 season. When Kirk Cousins went down mid-season and the offense sputtered, the defense was left to pick up the slack. And pick it up they did!

The 2023 Minnesota Vikings defense was a much-improved unit under the tutelage of former Miami Dolphins head coach and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Flores’ defensive scheme kept opposing offenses guessing all season, and the defense is the primary reason why the Vikings were (at least theoretically) still in the NFC playoff picture until the last two weeks of the season.

For better or worse, the Vikings have a lot of talent on the defense that is scheduled to hit the open market during the NFL’s free agency period this year. The biggest name is EDGE rusher Danielle Hunter, but there are a couple of key names – whether starters or depth pieces – with him that could leave.

Whether they leave or re-sign with the Vikings, Minnesota is going to have to be active in the NFL’s free agency period in some capacity to fill out the roster. A roster that could have several large holes, particularly at EDGE rusher. Here are six players who could help plug the hole at that position.

ESPN highlights a free agent pass rusher fit for the Saints

ESPN highlighted the best team fits for its top 50 free agent, linking the New Orleans Saints to pass rusher Za’Darius Smith:

We’re moving closer to free agency, and there’s a good chance the New Orleans Saints are going to make some moves to improve their team. ESPN has already shared their list of the top 50 free agents — now, ESPN staff writer Matt Bowen has linked each of those players with the best teams they could join in March.

And one name was highlighted for the Saints: Za’Darius Smith. Here’s why Bowen sees New Orleans as a good fit for him:

Given the Saints’ cap issues, this would probably be a one-year deal for Smith to play in Dennis Allen’s multiple defense. I like the fit here, though, given Smith’s pass rush versatility. Allen could deploy him off the edge or inside as a stand-up defensive tackle/nose. He’s a power rusher who has 60 sacks in his career (5½ with the Browns in 2023), and New Orleans finished tied for 28th in sacks last season with 34.

Smith has the size that the Saints covet off the edge, and he brings productivity that few players in their lineup can match — Pro Football Focus charting credited him with 61 and 80 quarterback pressures in his last two seasons on the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings. Before that, he was a two-time Pro Bowler with the Green Bay Packers and a big piece in the Baltimore Ravens’ rotation to start his career.

If the money checks out, he’d be a good get. But he shouldn’t be seen as the long-term fix at defensive end. Smith is an older player (he’ll be 32 when the season starts) and he would be joining an aging defense. Four of their top 11 defenders in snaps played are 30 or older, including Cameron Jordan, the second-oldest player on the team. Having two defensive ends on the wrong side of 30 and few young draft picks developing into known commodities behind them is worrisome.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4]

Ranking 2024’s top 12 free-agent pass rushers

There’s a pretty familiar name in this group.

Whether the Carolina Panthers tag or extend Brian Burns, we’re not going to see the two-time Pro Bowler even swim in the waters of free agency. But until then, he’s one of the 12 best edge defenders whose contracts are officially up.

Here’s Burns and his 11 pass-rushing pals:

4 under the radar free agents that fit the Lions well

Four free agents who fit the Lions needs, playing style and budget for the positions they play

The free agent period begins soon in the NFL. While it officially doesn’t fire up until mid-March, the NFL Scouting Combine typically marks when teams and agents really begin earnestly courting one another in free agency, too.

The Detroit Lions figure to be net spenders in free agency once again. That’s as much of a function of not being scheduled to lose any critical or high-priced free agents of their own, but also banking on GM Brad Holmes being a man of his word on adding more talent to the Lions.

In his year-ending press conference, Holmes talked about being smart in free agency. Being prudent in finding value in free agency will be an emphasis, and that means finding players who fit the Lions well but might not necessarily carry the league-wide demand or big-name appeal to drive the price tag up.

Holmes and the Lions have done a good job finding players like this, including OL Graham Glasgow (now a free agent himself), WR Kalif Raymond, RB David Montgomery, DL John Cominsky, LB Alex Anzalone and more.

Here are four names who could fit that value bill for the Lions and Holmes in the upcoming free agent period in 2024.

5 free agents for Saints fans to scout in Browns-Texans playoff game

Here are five free agents for Saints fans to scout in Saturday afternoon’s Texans-Browns playoff game:

We’re closing in on kickoff of the NFL’s wild-card round, which is a great opportunity for New Orleans Saints fans to scout upcoming free agents while they compete on the biggest stage. And there are plenty of prospects worth watching when the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns match up.

Whether the Saints are looking to get more explosive in the running game or deeper on the defensive side of the ball, here are five players we’re watching closely:

20 potential free agent targets for Vikings from Saturday’s Wild Card round

Taking a look at some of the top potential free agent fits for the Minnesota Vikings from Saturday’s Wild Card games

The 2024 Minnesota Vikings team is likely going to look a lot different than the 2023 squad. Whether that’s a good or bad thing remains to be seen, but change is inevitable in the NFL from year-to-year. Minnesota is going to have a lot of difficult decisions to make in the offseason, chief among them is what are they going to do with the Kirk Cousins and Danielle Hunter situations.

These are two very different situations, but both need resolution nonetheless. On the one hand, Cousins clearly makes the Vikings’ offense run to a degree that is exceptionally hard to replicate. We saw it over and over again this season. Despite the Vikings staying in the playoff race until the very end, they were a markedly different team with Cousins out.

On the other hand Danielle Hunter was a force for the Vikings defense this season, and had arguably the best year of his career. Both players are in line for significant paydays, and Minnesota has to choose whether or not they’re going to be the ones to cough up the money. Additionally, Minnesota has a number of other potential free agents to make decisions on, and there’s bound to be significant roster churn.

Some of that churn will come via the 2024 NFL draft, but a large part of it is going to come through free agency. With that as our backdrop, let’s take a look at some of the top potential free agent fits for the Vikings — five from each team — playing in Saturday’s Wild Card games.

Two Vikings make PFF’s top free agent rankings

Two Minnesota Vikings made PFF’s top-50 free agents rankings as we inch toward the off-season

PFF’s Brad Spielberger released his 2024 NFL free agent rankings that rank his top 50 players who are set to enter free agency. Two Minnesota Vikings made the list and the names shouldn’t shock anyone.

Quarterback Kirk Cousins ranked second behind only Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones.

An ill-timed torn Achilles derailed another strong season from Cousins, and he looked set to have a host of suitors in free agency, as he did back in 2018. Cousins still has the requisite arm strength to throw to all levels of the field and has been as accurate as ever in recent seasons.

Top free agent comparison: Philip Rivers, 2020

Contract Projection: Two years, $60 million ($30 million per year), $37.5 million total guaranteed

The other Viking to make the list was edge rusher Danielle Hunter, who ranked 12th, the third-highest edge rusher behind Jacksonville’s Josh Allen and Carolina’s Brian Burns.

Hunter has been a revelation in new defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ blitz-heavy scheme, though he was just as productive in 2022. Teams that run a 3-4 or 4-3 could probably find a way to effectively deploy Hunter, and injury concerns of a few years ago seem like distant memories. He is on pace for another season with 900-plus snaps, 70-plus quarterback pressures and double-digit sacks.

Top free agent comparison: Jason Pierre-Paul, 2017

Contract Projection: Three years, $65 million ($21.67 million per year), $40 million total guaranteed

How Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Minnesota front office handle this off-season will define the direction this regime is looking to take. Last year, they let go of Za’Darius Smith (who also made this list), signaling they were looking more toward the franchise’s future. But after the success that both Hunter and Cousins had this season, there could be more of an emphasis on competing now than building for the future.

[lawrence-related id=69914,87726,87717,87707,87704,87662]

Lamar Jackson on the Ravens defense: They have no weakness

Ahead of Baltimore’s Week 10 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, star quarterback Lamar Jackson says the Ravens defense has no weakness

Sunday’s matchup at M&T Bank Stadium will feature the top two defensive units in the NFL statistically when the Ravens host the Browns in an intense Week 10 matchup.

Cleveland ranks first in yards allowed (234.8), the fewest allowed through nine weeks in 15 years.

Baltimore leads the league in points allowed (13.8), the lowest number this far into a season since its 2000 Super Bowl-winning defense.

During his post-practice sit down with the media, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was asked about his squad, and he didn’t hide the praise.

“Not trying to toot our own horn, but I believe our defense has no weakness,” Lamar Jackson said. “Just from the defensive line, the linebackers, the secondary, how they’re flying around and disguising defenses — making it look like one coverage, but it’s something else — and how they time up their blitzes, it helps us out a lot, because when we’re playing other teams, they’re flying around and giving us their best shot. It’s like we’re seeing one of the best defenses every day.”

Both defenses are coming off standout performances in Week 9, as the Browns allowed 58 total yards while recording their first shutout since 2007 in beating the Arizona Cardinals 27-0.

The Ravens allowed their fewest yards in five years when they held the Seattle Seahawks to 151 yards in a 37-3 victory.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=46916063]

Grant Delpit and the Browns’ pass defense could give Lamar Jackson serious problems

The Browns’ defense is playing off the charts right now, and safety Grant Delpit is a key factor. Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar break it down.

Through the first three games of the 2023 NFL season, the Cleveland Browns are playing defense at a level we rarely see. The 3-0 Browns rank first in Defensive DVOA, and they have the sixth-best DVOA through the DVOA era, which goes back to the early 1980s.

The numbers are pretty insane. Cleveland ranks first in net yards per passing attempt allowed at 3.5. The NFL average is 5.9. They’ve allowed 14 first downs in the passing game – the NFL average is 32.2. They’ve allowed 2.8 yards per rushing attempt – the NFL average is 4.1. They’ve allowed one passing touchdown. The NFL average is 3.9. 

We know about Myles Garrett, Za’Darius Smith, and all those pass-rushers — we’ve discussed that before. It’s time to turn our attention to what the Browns are doing on the back end, because their pass defense — albeit against Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Tennessee Titans offenses that have struggled to bust a grape at times — is particularly obscene.

Per Sports Info Solutions, that pass defense has allowed an opponent passer rating of 61.1 — only the Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys have been better. Their Yards per Coverage Snap of 4.2 leads the league. Their Passing EPA allowed of -40.68, and their EPA Per Play allowed of -0.42 are both second-nest behind the Bills, their Positive Play Rate Allowed of 24.5% is by far the NFL’s best (the Cowboys rank second at 35.2%), and on and on and on.

So, let’s turn to the Browns’ secondary, and detail how that’s working so well. We must start with safety Grant Delpit, who’s playing out of his mind this season. Delpit has two pressures, 15 tackles, nine stops, and he’s allowed eight catches on 11 targets for 22 yards, 16 yards after the catch, no touchdowns, one interception, one pass breakup, and an opponent passer rating of 37.3. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz loves to use subtle twists of the knife through a game in coverage, and Delpit has been Schwartz’s perfect foil because he plays with his hair on fire all over the field.

Whether he’s covering Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals through the deep third…

…or blitzing from the slot to upset Joe Burrow…

…Delpit can do it all from everywhere.

Schwartz talked a lot this week about the challenges presented by the Baltimore Ravens’ offense and Lamar Jackson.

“There’s still a lot of carryover from last year, particularly run game and quarterback run game, but probably a little bit more emphasis on some of the dropback game,” Schwartz said on Thursday of Baltimore’s offense under new OC Todd Monken. “His completion percentage is way up. They’re trying to get high-percentage completions, get the ball out of his hand fairly quickly, but that goes both ways. It comes out of his hand a little bit faster, but sometimes he’s really dangerous when he’s holding the ball a long time, making guys miss and making big plays down the know the field. There’s still a lot of carryover from years past. And I think with Coach [John] Harbaugh there, he’s not going to let it get too far away from his philosophy and their effort to be physical and control the game with the run game. So, there’s a lot of stuff there, and we’ll have to be ready for a lot of different personnel packages. They use different packages within personnel packages and things like that. So, we’ll match it a lot of different ways.”

It’s a tremendous matchup, and Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar get into it in this week’s “Xs and Os.”

[anyclip-media thumbnail=”https://cdn5.anyclip.com/Kr0b3IoB6a832FGHUzdr/1695910013085_248x140_thumbnail.jpg” playlistId=”undefined” content=”PHNjcmlwdCBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vcGxheWVyLnBvcHRvay5jb20vYW55Y2xpcC13aWRnZXQvbHJlLXdpZGdldC9wcm9kL3YxL3NyYy9scmUuanMiIGRhdGEtYXI9IjE2OjkiIGRhdGEtcGxpZD0iam56ZGF5cnRqZnh1ZW50YmhhenRlcnNoamJreHV6ZHMiIHB1Ym5hbWU9IjE5OTgiIHdpZGdldG5hbWU9IjAwMTZNMDAwMDJVMEIxa1FBRl9NODMyNSI+Cjwvc2NyaXB0Pg==”][/anyclip-media]

You can watch this week’s “Xs and Os with Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar,” featuring detailed tape and metric breakdowns of Week 4’s biggest matchups, right here:

[anyclip-media thumbnail=”https://cdn5.anyclip.com/Vz8Y2ooBLH5_irLuHG2Y/1695877388798_248x140_thumbnail.jpg” playlistId=”undefined” content=”PHNjcmlwdCBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vcGxheWVyLnBvcHRvay5jb20vYW55Y2xpcC13aWRnZXQvbHJlLXdpZGdldC9wcm9kL3YxL3NyYy9scmUuanMiIGRhdGEtYXI9IjE2OjkiIGRhdGEtcGxpZD0ia3o1ZHF3anNuNXh1ZXRjaWd2cHdzNHNtb3ZlZW9tc3oiIHB1Ym5hbWU9IjE5OTgiIHdpZGdldG5hbWU9IjAwMTZNMDAwMDJVMEIxa1FBRl9NODMyNSI+Cjwvc2NyaXB0Pg==”][/anyclip-media]

You can also listen and subscribe to the “Xs and Os” podcast on Spotify…

…and on Apple Podcasts.