One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and the Philadelphia Eagles have made a habit of proving it. Over the past few years, they’ve built a reputation for scooping up veterans cast aside by other teams and turning them into impact players.
Zack Baun might be the best example. Before signing with Philadelphia last season, he had never played inside linebacker. One year later, he blossomed into an All-Pro at the position.
Za'Darius Smith is the latest veteran hoping for his own career revival in Philly—though, unlike Baun, he’ll be sticking to his natural role. And if his debut is any indication, he’s off to a strong start.
Za'Darius Smith Already Looking Like a Home Run Signing for the Eagles
On September 5, just nine days before the Eagles’ Week 2 matchup, Smith inked a one-year, $9 million deal. After his first practice, he explained why he chose Philadelphia over several suitors, saying it felt like “a great opportunity, great fit for me to come here and basically do what I do and just help the younger guys.” I'm sure the $9 million didn't hurt either.
That veteran presence is valuable, but it was Smith’s on-field play that stole the spotlight in his first game.
Against the Kansas City Chiefs, he logged 20 of the team’s 60 defensive snaps (33 percent) and made the most of them. His stat line was four tackles (two solo), one tackle for loss, and half a sack.
His quick impact allowed the Eagles to slightly dial back the workloads of Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt, keeping them fresher throughout the game. Smith even out-snapped Joshua Uche, effectively sliding into the No. 3 edge rusher role in the rotation.
That’s a promising sign for both Smith and the Eagles.
At 33 years old, Smith has bounced around the NFL in recent seasons. Philadelphia is his fourth team since leaving the Green Bay Packers in 2021. The talent has always been there—his blend of size (6-foot-4, 270 pounds) and burst has led to five different seasons with at least eight sacks over his 11-year career.
The questions have never been about ability, but rather availability and fit.
A back injury cost him nearly all of his final year in Green Bay, and while he’s been able to stay healthy the last three seasons, concerns linger about durability. Off the field, he’s had clashes with teammates and coaches at several stops, adding to his reputation as a player who can be tough to manage.
The Eagles believe their culture can handle that. With a strong locker room and a coaching staff that knows how to manage veteran personalities, Smith appears to have bought in.
And if he’s fully committed, Philadelphia just added another dangerous piece to an already loaded roster. The Eagles were already Super Bowl favorites, but Smith’s pass-rushing ability raises the ceiling even further.
Once again, it looks like the Eagles have turned another discarded veteran into one of their best bargains.