Za'Darius Smith

The Baltimore Ravens selected Smith in the fourth round (122nd overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft. Smith was the 17th defensive end drafted in 2015. The pick used to draft him was acquired during a trade with the Detroit Lions in exchange for Haloti Ngata.[13]

Smith with the Baltimore Ravens in 2015.

On May 8, 2015, the Baltimore Ravens signed Smith to a four-year, $2.76 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $483,152.[14]

Smith entered training camp as a backup outside linebacker. Head coach John Harbaugh named Smith the backup weakside linebacker, behind Terrell Suggs, to start the regular season.[15]

On September 20, 2015, Smith made his professional regular season debut during a 37–33 loss at the Oakland Raiders and made one solo tackle. On October 1, 2015, Smith recorded a season-high four solo tackles and made a season-high two sacks during a 23–20 overtime win at the Pittsburgh Steelers. Smith made his first career sack on Steelers’ quarterback Michael Vick for a six-yard loss during the third quarter and would also sack him on the next play.[16] As a rookie in 2015, Smith played 15 games with 30 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and 2 pass defended.[17]

In the 2016 season, he played in 13 games and started four. He recorded one pass defensed, one forced fumble, one sack, 20 tackles, and four quarterback hits.[18]

In the 2017 season, he appeared in 14 games and started four. He recorded one pass defensed, one forced fumble, 3.5 sacks, 24 tackles, and 16 quarterback hits.[19]

In the 2018 season, he appeared in 16 games and started eight. In Week 6 of the 2018 season, Smith recorded three sacks, which was part of the new team record 11 sacks, in a 21–0 win over the Tennessee Titans, earning him AFC Defensive Player of the Week.[20] He finished the season with career-highs with 45 combined tackles, 8.5 sacks, two passes defensed and a forced fumble. He led the Ravens in sacks and finished sixth on the team in tackles.[21]

On March 14, 2019, Smith signed a four-year, $66 million contract with the Green Bay Packers.[22] In Smith's debut as a Packer in week 1, he made 3 tackles and sacked Mitchell Trubisky once in the 10–3 win over the Chicago Bears.[23] In week 6 against the Detroit Lions, Smith recorded a sack on Matthew Stafford in the 23–22 win.[24] In week 8 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Smith sacked Matt Moore twice in the 31–24 win.[25] In week 12 against the San Francisco 49ers, Smith recorded a team high 6 tackles and sacked Jimmy Garoppolo once in the 37–8 loss.[26] In week 16 against the Minnesota Vikings, Smith sacked Kirk Cousins 3.5 times during the 23–10 win.[27][28] Smith finished the regular season with a career high 13.5 sacks.

In the Divisional Round of the playoffs against the Seattle Seahawks, Smith recorded 2 sacks on Russell Wilson during the 28–23 win.[29]

In Week 3 of the 2020 season against the New Orleans Saints, Smith forced a fumble on Taysom Hill that was recovered by the Packers during the 37–30 win.[30] In Week 4 against the Atlanta Falcons, Smith sacked Matt Ryan three times during the 30–16 win.[31] Smith was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Week 4.[32] In Week 12 against the Chicago Bears, Smith recorded a strip sack on Mitchell Trubisky that was recovered and returned for a touchdown by teammate Preston Smith during the 41–25 win.[33] On December 21, 2020, he was selected for the 2021 Pro Bowl.[34] On January 8, 2021, he made the 2020 All-Pro Team second team.[35]

On July 28, 2021, Smith reported to Packers' training camp with a back injury, and the team placed him on the Non-Football Injury list (NFI). He practiced sparingly during camp, but assured fans that he would be ready for the Packers' Week 1 game with the New Orleans Saints.[36] Smith played just 18 snaps during the 3–38 loss, behind second-year teammate Jonathan Garvin, and was called for a roughing the passer penalty that negated a Darnell Savage interception.[37] On September 17, Smith was placed on injured reserve with the same back injury that nagged him throughout training camp.[38] During the week of September 27, Smith underwent back surgery and was ruled out indefinitely. The Packers expressed hope he would be back at some point during the season.[39] On October 29, Smith posted on Twitter that he was back in Green Bay and "can't wait to get back on the field!"[40] Despite that, head coach Matt LaFleur cautioned that their staff were hopeful but would have to "get him back in the building and see where he's at."[41] On January 12, 2022, the Packers opened the practice window for Smith.[42] On January 22, Smith, along with fellow linebacker Whitney Mercilus, were officially activated off injured reserve ahead of the Packers' first playoff game in the Divisional Round against the San Francisco 49ers.[43] In his first snap since Week 1, rushing on the interior on a 3rd and 14, Smith beat left guard Laken Tomlinson to sack quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. He finished the game with 1 sack and 1 solo tackle, which was for a loss.

On March 14, 2022, Smith, who would have been responsible for a $27.7 million cap hit in 2023,[44] was released by the Packers to save $15.3 million in salary cap space.[45]

Smith with the Minnesota Vikings in 2022.

On March 22, 2022, Smith signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings, reuniting him with Mike Pettine and Mike Smith.[46]

For the month of October, Smith was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month with 14 tackles, 6.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss, and a pass breakup.[47] In Week 8, Smith had seven tackles, three sacks, four tackles for loss, and a pass breakup in a 34–26 win over the Arizona Cardinals, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week.[48]

On May 16, 2023, the Cleveland Browns traded two fifth round picks in exchange for Smith, a 2025 sixth-round pick and a 2025 seventh-round pick.[49]