Za'Darius Smith Current Contract Structure
Za'Darius Smith signed a five-year, $132 million contract extension with the Green Bay Packers in 2022, making him one of the highest-paid edge rushers in the NFL. The deal includes $70 million guaranteed and an average annual salary of $26.4 million, according to OverTheCapZa'Darius Smith contract details on OverTheCap. The structure features a significant signing bonus and escalating base salaries, with his 2024 cap hit sitting at approximately $28 million, a figure that places him among the top defensive earners on the Packers roster.
The contract was restructured in 2023 to provide the Packers with additional cap flexibility, converting a portion of his base salary into a signing bonus. This move lowered his immediate cap number but increased his dead cap value in future years, a common strategy for teams managing long-term deals with veteran pass rushers. Smith's current deal runs through the 2027 season, with a total cap hit of roughly $115 million from 2024 to 2027, per SpotracZa'Darius Smith contract on Spotrac.
Career Earnings and Team History
Za'Darius Smith has earned over $100 million in total career NFL compensation, with the majority coming from his time with the Green Bay Packers. Before joining Green Bay in 2019, he played four seasons for the Minnesota Vikings, where he earned a total of approximately $16 million on a rookie deal and a one-year extension. His transition to the Packers marked a significant financial leap, reflecting his emergence as a premier pass-rushing talent in the league.
Smith's career trajectory includes a Pro Bowl selection in 2019 and a second-team All-Pro nod in 2021, seasons that directly influenced his massive contract extension. He recorded a career-high 17.5 sacks in the 2021 season, a performance that solidified his market value and led to the record deal with Green Bay. His combined sack total across his first five NFL seasons exceeds 55, placing him among the most productive edge defenders of his draft class, as documented on NFL.comZa'Darius Smith player profile on NFL.com.
Contract Impact on the Green Bay Packers
The Za'Darius Smith contract represents a major commitment for the Packers' salary cap, with his cap number consistently ranking in the top 10 among all NFL players since 2022. This financial investment reflects the team's reliance on his pass-rushing ability, as he remains the primary interior pressure option alongside Kenny Clark. The front office has balanced his deal by structuring other defensive contracts carefully, though Smith's guaranteed money and dead cap obligations limit future flexibility.
Smith's production has remained strong since the extension, with double-digit sack seasons in both 2022 and 2023, validating the Packers' investment. His presence on the field directly correlates with the team's defensive ranking, as Green Bay consistently fields a top-tier pass rush when he is healthy and active. The long-term nature of the deal also signals the organization's intent to build around veteran leadership on the defensive line, a strategy supported by his leadership role within the locker room, per Packers official reportsGreen Bay Packers official contract extension announcement.