Za'Darius Smith

Cleveland Browns, Defensive End

Age: 32-66d (Sep 08, 1992)

Exp: 9 Years

Country: US

College: Kentucky

Drafted: Round 4 (#122 overall), 2015

Agent(s): Erik Burkhardt (Roc Nation Sports)

2024 Cap Hit

$5,235,000

2024 Cash

$12,000,000

Career Earnings

$89,967,546

2024-2025 Free Agent (CURRENT)

Za'Darius Smith signed a 2 year , $23,000,000 contract with the Cleveland Browns, including $10,790,000 signing bonus, $12,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $11,500,000. In 2024, Smith will earn a base salary of $1,210,000 and a signing bonus of $10,790,000, while carrying a cap hit of $5,235,000 and a dead cap value of $19,468,000.

Contract Terms:

2 yr(s) / $23,000,000

Average Salary:

$11,500,000

Signing Bonus:

$10,790,000

GTD at Sign:

$12,000,000

Total GTD:

$12,000,000

Free Agent:

2026 / UFA

MANAGE CONTRACT

Year	Age	Status	Cap HitAnnual	Cap % League Cap	Cash Annual	Cash Cumulative	Dead Cap Annual
2024	32		$5,235,000	2.05%	$12,000,000	$12,000,000	$19,468,000
POTENTIAL OUT: 2025, 1 YR, $12,000,000; $14,233,000 DEAD CAP
2025	33		$9,433,000	3.45%	$11,000,000	$23,000,000	$14,233,000
2026	34	Void UFA	$15,800,000	5.40%	-	$23,000,000	$10,208,000
2027		Void	$5,423,000	1.73%	-	$23,000,000	-
2028		Void	$3,556,000	1.06%	-	$23,000,000	-
2029		Void	$1,398,000	0.39%	-	$23,000,000	-

Year	Age	Status	Base P5 Salary	Signing Proration	Roster Bonus	Roster/Gm Bonus	Option Proration	Cap Hit	Cap % League Cap	Dead Cap
2024	32		$1,210,000	$4,025,000	-	-	-	$5,235,000	2.05%	$19,468,000	2024 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2024 Dead Cap: $19,468,000 2024 Savings: $-14,233,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2024 Dead Cap: $18,258,000 2024 Savings: $-13,023,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2024 Dead Cap: $5,235,000 2025 Dead Cap: $14,233,000 2024 Savings: $0 POST-6/1 TRADE 2024 Dead Cap: $4,025,000 2025 Dead Cap: $14,233,000 2024 Savings: $1,210,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
POTENTIAL OUT: 2025, 1 YR, $12,000,000; $14,233,000 DEAD CAP
2025	33		$1,500,000	$4,025,000	$2,000,000	$510,000	$1,398,000	$9,433,000	3.45%	$14,233,000	2025 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2025 Dead Cap: $14,233,000 2025 Savings: $-4,800,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2025 Dead Cap: $14,233,000 2025 Savings: $-4,800,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2025 Dead Cap: $4,025,000 2026 Dead Cap: $10,208,000 2025 Savings: $5,408,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2025 Dead Cap: $4,025,000 2026 Dead Cap: $10,208,000 2025 Savings: $5,408,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
2026	34	Void UFA	-	$4,025,000	-	-	$1,398,000	$15,800,000	5.40%	$10,208,000	2026 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2026 Dead Cap: $10,208,000 2026 Savings: $5,592,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2026 Dead Cap: $10,208,000 2026 Savings: $5,592,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2026 Dead Cap: $0 2027 Dead Cap: $10,208,000 2026 Savings: $15,800,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2026 Dead Cap: $0 2027 Dead Cap: $10,208,000 2026 Savings: $15,800,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
2027		Void	-	$4,025,000	-	-	$1,398,000	$5,423,000	1.73%	-	2027 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2027 Dead Cap: $0 2027 Savings: $5,423,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2027 Dead Cap: $0 2027 Savings: $5,423,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2027 Dead Cap: $0 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2027 Savings: $5,423,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2027 Dead Cap: $0 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2027 Savings: $5,423,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
2028		Void	-	$2,158,000	-	-	$1,398,000	$3,556,000	1.06%	-	2028 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2028 Savings: $3,556,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2028 Savings: $3,556,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2028 Savings: $3,556,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2028 Savings: $3,556,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
2029		Void	-	-	-	-	$1,398,000	$1,398,000	0.39%	-	2029 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Savings: $1,398,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Savings: $1,398,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Savings: $1,398,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Savings: $1,398,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.

Year	Age	Status	Base P5 Salary	Signing Bonus	Roster Bonus	Option Bonus	Cash Total	Cash Cumulative	AYC Cumulative	AYC Remaining
2024	32		$1,210,000	$10,790,000	-	-	$12,000,000	$12,000,000	$12,000,000	$11,500,000
2025	33		$1,500,000	-	$2,000,000	$6,990,000	$11,000,000	$23,000,000	$11,500,000	$11,000,000
2026	34	Void	-	-	-	-	-	$23,000,000	-	-
2027	35	Void	-	-	-	-	-	$23,000,000	-	-
2028	36	Void	-	-	-	-	-	$23,000,000	-	-
2029	37	Void	-	-	-	-	-	$23,000,000	-	-

Contract Notes

$12M guaranteed (signing bonus + 2024 salary)
2025 Roster Bonus: $2M (3rd league day of 2025)
2025 Option Bonus: $6.99M (3rd league day of 2025)
2025 Per Game Active Bonus: $30,000 ($510,000)

Source: NFL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2023-2023 Extension

Za'Darius Smith signed a 1 year , $11,710,000 contract with the Cleveland Browns, including $9,335,000 signing bonus, $10,500,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $11,710,000. In 2024, Smith will earn a base salary of $1,210,000, while carrying a cap hit of $3,077,000 and a dead cap value of $7,468,000.

Contract Terms:

1 yr(s) / $11,710,000

Average Salary:

$11,710,000

Signing Bonus:

$9,335,000

GTD at Sign:

$10,500,000

Total GTD:

$10,500,000

Free Agent:

2024 / UFA

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2022-2024 Free Agent

Za'Darius Smith signed a 3 year , $42,000,000 contract with the Minnesota Vikings, including $5,000,000 signing bonus, $11,500,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $14,000,000. In 2024, Smith will earn a base salary of $14,450,000, a roster bonus of $2,500,000 and a workout bonus of $50,000, while carrying a cap hit of $21,666,666 and a dead cap value of $1,666,666.

Contract Terms:

3 yr(s) / $42,000,000

Average Salary:

$14,000,000

Signing Bonus:

$5,000,000

GTD at Sign:

$6,450,000

Total GTD:

$11,500,000

Free Agent:

2025 / UFA

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2019-2022 Free Agent

Za'Darius Smith signed a 4 year , $66,000,000 contract with the Green Bay Packers, including $20,000,000 signing bonus, $20,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $16,500,000.

Contract Terms:

4 yr(s) / $66,000,000

Average Salary:

$16,500,000

Signing Bonus:

$20,000,000

GTD at Sign:

$20,000,000

Total GTD:

$20,000,000

Free Agent:

2023 / UFA

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2015-2018 Rookie

Za'Darius Smith signed a 4 year , $2,763,152 contract with the Baltimore Ravens, including $483,152 signing bonus, $483,152 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $690,788.

Contract Terms:

4 yr(s) / $2,763,152

Average Salary:

$690,788

Signing Bonus:

$483,152

GTD at Sign:

$483,152

Total GTD:

$483,152

Free Agent:

2019 / UFA

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Seasons

9 Years

Career Earnings thru 2024

$89,967,546

Earnings w/ Different Teams

4 teams

Earnings Per Year

Year	Age	Status	Cash Total	Cash Cumulative
2015	23	Active	$1,036,376	$1,036,376
2016	24	Active	$525,000	$1,561,376
2017	25	Active	$615,000	$2,176,376
2018	26	Active	$1,907,000	$4,083,376
2019	27	Active	$22,250,000	$26,333,376
2020	28	Active	$12,281,239	$38,614,615
2021	29	Active	$16,529,411	$55,144,026
2022	30	Active	$12,323,520	$67,467,546
2023	31	Active	$10,500,000	$77,967,546
2024	32	Active	$12,000,000	$89,967,546
Total			$89,967,546	$89,967,546
2025	33	Active	$11,000,000
Total			$100,967,546

Earnings Per Team

Years	Base	Signing	Roster	Restructure	Option	Incentives	Cash Cumulative
4	$3,482,000	$483,152	-	-	-	$118,224	$4,083,376
3	$3,990,000	$20,000,000	$10,029,411	$14,760,000	$2,250,000	$31,239	$51,060,650
1	$1,450,000	$5,000,000	$2,823,520	-	$50,000	$3,000,000	$12,323,520
2	$2,375,000	$20,125,000	-	-	-	-	$22,500,000

Year	Age	Base	Signing	Roster	Restructure	Option	Workout	Incentives	Cash Total	Cash Cumulative
2015	23	$435,000	$483,152					$118,224	$1,036,376	$1,036,376
2016	24	$525,000							$525,000	$1,561,376
2017	25	$615,000							$615,000	$2,176,376
2018	26	$1,907,000							$1,907,000	$4,083,376
2019	27	$1,000,000	$20,000,000		$500,000		$750,000		$22,250,000	$26,333,376
2020	28	$2,000,000			$9,500,000		$750,000	$31,239	$12,281,239	$38,614,615
2021	29	$990,000		$14,760,000	$29,411		$750,000		$16,529,411	$55,144,026
2022	30	$1,450,000	$5,000,000		$2,823,520		$50,000	$3,000,000	$12,323,520	$67,467,546
2023	31	$1,165,000	$9,335,000						$10,500,000	$77,967,546
2024	32	$1,210,000	$10,790,000						$12,000,000	$89,967,546
Total		$11,297,000	$45,608,152	$14,760,000	$12,852,931		$2,300,000	$3,149,463	$89,967,546	$89,967,546
2025	33	$1,500,000			$2,000,000	$6,990,000			$11,000,000
Total		$12,797,000	$45,608,152	$14,760,000	$14,852,931	$6,990,000	$2,300,000	$3,149,463	$100,967,546

Earnings Per Team

Years	Base	Signing	Roster	Restructure	Option	Incentives	Cash Cumulative
4	$3,482,000	$483,152	-	-	-	$118,224	$4,083,376
3	$3,990,000	$20,000,000	$10,029,411	$14,760,000	$2,250,000	$31,239	$51,060,650
1	$1,450,000	$5,000,000	$2,823,520	-	$50,000	$3,000,000	$12,323,520
2	$2,375,000	$20,125,000	-	-	-	-	$22,500,000

Injuries

Year		Weeks	Reason
2021	GB	2 - 18	Back

Mar 11, 2024 Signed a 2 year $23 million contract with Cleveland (CLE)
Dec 22, 2023 Fined $16,391 Roughing the Passer against Chicago (CHI)
Oct 20, 2023 Fined $10,927 Unsportsmanlike Conduct against San Francisco (SF)
May 12, 2023 Signed a 1 year $10.5 million restructured contract with Cleveland (CLE)
May 12, 2023 Traded to Cleveland (CLE) from Minnesota (MIN) with 2025 6th round pick and 2025 7th round pick for 2025 5th round pick and 2024 5th round pick (#157 - traded)
Mar 22, 2022 Signed a 3 year $42 million contract with Minnesota (MIN)
Mar 17, 2021 Converted $14.26 million of 2021 salary into bonus, clearing $7.38M of cap space with Green Bay (GB)
Sep 25, 2020 Fined $10,000 Unsportsmanlike Conduct against Detroit (DET)
Oct 11, 2019 Fined $10,527 Unsportsmanlike Conduct against Dallas (DAL)
Mar 12, 2019 Signed a 4 year $66 million contract with Green Bay (GB)
Oct 06, 2017 Fined $18,231 Roughing the Passer against Ben Roethlisberger (PIT)
Oct 28, 2016 Fined $18,231 Roughing the Passer against Ryan Fitzpatrick (NYJ)
May 08, 2015 Signed a 4 year $2.763 million contract with Baltimore (BAL)
May 02, 2015 Drafted by Baltimore (BAL): Round 4 (#122 overall)

Fines

Date	Reason	Fine Amount
Oct 28, 2016	Roughing the Passer against Ryan Fitzpatrick (NYJ)	$18,231
Oct 06, 2017	Roughing the Passer against Ben Roethlisberger (PIT)	$18,231
Oct 11, 2019	Unsportsmanlike Conduct against Dallas (DAL)	$10,527
Sep 25, 2020	Unsportsmanlike Conduct against Detroit (DET)	$10,000
Oct 20, 2023	Unsportsmanlike Conduct against San Francisco (SF)	$10,927
Dec 22, 2023	Roughing the Passer against Chicago (CHI)	$16,391

Year	Team	GP	GS	Snaps	Snaps%	Sack	Tackles Total	Tackles Solo	Tackles Assisted	FFum
2024	CLE	9	8	298	59.20	5	23	15	8	0
2023	CLE	16	15	584	55.10	6	27	18	9	1
2022	MIN	16	16	771	66.40	10	44	32	12	1
2021	GB	1	0	18	30.00	0	1	1	0	0
2020	GB	16	16	860	83.90	13	52	35	17	3
2019	GB	16	16	883	84.30	14	55	41	14	1
2018	BAL	16	8	692	66.90	9	45	27	18	1
2017	BAL	14	4	531	48.60	4	24	15	9	1
2016	BAL	13	4	494	47.50	1	20	10	10	1
2015	BAL	15	0	407	38.10	6	30	20	10	0

Calculated Market Value

$13.8M Avg. Annual Salary

Market Value

2 years, $27,642,812
Avg. Salary: $13,821,406
NFL Rank: 168
DE Rank: 14

Current Contract

Free Agent: 2026
Avg. Salary: $11,500,000
NFL Rank: 207
DE Rank: 19

Comparable Players

We've selected the following players based on their age, contract status, and statistical production to compare Za'Darius Smith to.

Player	Length	Value	Avg. Salary	Age When Signed
Preston Smith	4	$52,000,000	$13,000,000	29
Randy Gregory	5	$70,000,000	$14,000,000	29
Matt Judon	4	$54,500,000	$13,625,000	28
Shaquil Barrett	4	$68,000,000	$17,000,000	28
Averages	4	$61,125,000	$14,406,250	28.5

Base Calculated Value

After adjusting the above contracts as if signed at Smith's current age (32), a linear regression is performed, providing us with the following initial value.

Length	Value	Avg. Salary
2	$27,816,666	$13,908,333

Statistical Comparisons

Now we'll compare our variables and Smith statistically over the two seasons prior to their signing. In this case we're analyzing: GP%, Tackles/Gm, Sacks/Gm, Stops/Gm, QB Hurries/Gm, Rating

Player	GP%	Tackles/Gm	Sacks/Gm	Stops/Gm	QB Hurries/Gm	Rating
Preston Smith 2020-2021	96.97	1.69	0.41	1.50	1.88	66.95
Randy Gregory 2020-2021	66.67	1.36	0.43	1.14	1.73	79.55
Matt Judon 2019-2020	93.75	2.50	0.52	1.93	1.50	64.95
Shaquil Barrett 2019-2020	96.88	2.84	0.89	2.29	3.39	74.20
Average	88.57	2.10	0.56	1.72	2.13	71.41
Za'Darius Smith 2022-2023	96.97	1.56	0.48	1.47	2.91	82.40
Pct Change	9.48	-25.71	-14.29	-14.53	36.62	15.39
Median Prime % Change						-2.41%
Average Prime % Change						1.16%

Calculated Market Value: Za'Darius Smith

After applying our Prime % figures into our base calculated value, we're given two values. The average of these values becomes our current calculated market value.

Terms	Avg. Salary
2 years, $27,642,812	$13,821,406

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5 Za'Darius Smith (DE, CLE)

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