Za'Darius Smith

During his lone season with the Vikings in 2022, Smith returned to form with double-digit sacks (10) for the third time in his eight-year career. This revival came on the heels of missing nearly the entire 2021 campaign for the Packers while rehabbing from back surgery. Aside from 2021, Smith also was limited to his fewest defense snaps (735) since 2018, as he was a regular on Minnesota injury reports last year due to a knee issue. After an offseason trade to Cleveland, the 30-year-old will be counted on as a key pass rusher as he moves from the Vikings' 3-4 defense to the 4-3 scheme run by the Browns.

Last year, a lingering back injury that required surgery in late September limited Smith to just one regular-season appearance Week 1, but he returned to action for Green Bay's divisional-round playoff loss to the 49ers. Cut loose by Green Bay in March, he signed with NFC North rival Minnesota to boost the team's pass rush and form a formidable tandem with Danielle Hunter in a new 3-4 defense. Smith can be an impact player, as he had sack totals of 13.5 and 12.5 the prior two seasons, but he'll need to show he can stay healthy as he turns 30 this season.

After recording a career-high 13.5 sacks in his first season with Green Bay, Smith backed that up with 12.5 more sacks in Year 2. He got more involved in other areas, too, forcing four fumbles, recovering two of them and also deflecting two passes. Smith doesn't rack up the tackle numbers that other linebackers do, but he's a proven pass rusher and, in the same role he filled the last two seasons, is a good bet to reach double digits in the sack department for a third year in a row.

In this space last year, it was written, "Smith's sack rate (in 2018) rivaled that of pass rushers who finished with more sacks, so if he takes off as the Packers expect, he's a good bet to break into double digits in the sack department for the first time in his career." Well, that's exactly what happened, as Smith finished tied for sixth in the league with 13.5 sacks. Even when he didn't get home, he wreaked havoc on opposing quarterbacks, finishing among the league leaders in pressure rate. Playing in the same defensive scheme without any major personnel changes affecting his role, Smith is a safe bet for double-digit sacks once again.

After spending four years with the Ravens, Smith joined the Packers during the offseason. He was mainly a rotational player while with the Ravens, but the Packers believe he is ready for a more prominent role, and signed him to a lucrative multi-year deal. His salary figures to make him a starter, which will give him a chance to see more snaps. Smith's sack rate last year rivaled that of pass rushers who finished with more sacks, so if he takes off as the Packers expect, he's a good bet to break into double digits in the sack department for the first time in his career.

In what was his rookie season last year, Smith totaled a respectable 5.5 sacks while playing 38.1 percent of the team’s defensive snaps. He was a beneficiary of Terrell Suggs missing nearly the entire season to a torn Achilles', seeing the field much more to fill in for the Pro-Bowler. With Suggs and Elvis Dumervil the clear starters at outside linebacker in 2016, Smith could be forced to take a step back in his second campaign.

The Ravens hope that Smith, a fourth-round draft pick out of Kentucky, can replace the departed Pernell McPhee as a versatile pass-rusher in a part-time role. Much like McPhee, Smith is an oversized outside linebacker with the potential to pressure quarterbacks from a variety of stances and locations.