Za’Darius Smith’s next stop is Atlanta, not Cleveland.
After being reported for a Browns deal following his June release by the Eagles and his NFL comeback from retirement, Smith has instead agreed to a one-year contract with the Falcons after a workout with the team. It’s another sudden turn for a player who has already left one Philadelphia fan base frustrated.
The Eagles brought Smith in last year hoping he could help the edge-rusher group. He wound up appearing in five games, finishing with 10 tackles, three quarterback hits, two tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks before retiring.
Smith’s track record has now added another twist. Years ago, he backed out of a contract with the Baltimore Ravens to sign elsewhere, then surprised the Eagles after that brief stint in Philadelphia, and now he has left the Browns waiting without a deal. For Atlanta, the move comes at a time when the team has been hit by injury and suspension issues at edge rusher, and Smith also has a prior connection with head coach Kevin Stefanski from their time together in Cleveland.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, already moved on. The Eagles traded for Jaelan Phillips and got Brandon Graham back from retirement, a combination that helped them get into the playoffs.
The edge room also got deeper in the offseason with the trade for Jonathan Greenard during the draft and the addition of A.J. Epenesa.
Jalyx Hunt is also trending up after leading the team in sacks and interceptions last season, with a monster 2026 season apparently on the horizon.
Whatever Smith’s next chapter looks like in Atlanta, Eagles fans are unlikely to be cheering for it after the way his time in Philadelphia ended.
In Other News...
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The Eagles rookie class has already started to sort itself into two clear groups as camp moves along, with the early draft picks looking far more secure than the rest of the first-year crowd. Philadelphia has spent the summer evaluating 15 rookies across different spots on the roster, and the picture is becoming clearer by the day as some players push toward opening-week roles while others are fighting just to stay in the conversation for the 53-man roster or practice squad.
Jalen Lemons path has been slowed by a hamstring injury that has kept him out since Aug. 4, though he is close to getting back on the field, while the tight end picture also carries some real intrigue with Stowers trending toward a healthy scratch as the TE3 for Week 1. Elsewhere, Bell, Payton, Morris, Wisniewski, Bernard and James-Newby are all being judged not just on talent, but on how quickly they can turn their development into something the Eagles can actually use once roster cuts arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Camp Picture Is Getting Clearer At Wide Receiver
The Eagles twelfth training camp practice offered another look at a receiver room that is slowly starting to take shape, even as the injury report continues to do a lot of the heavy lifting. Makai Lemon, Tank Bigsby and Johnny Wilson were all sidelined, while DeVonta Smith and safety Cole Wisniewski were among the players working on a limited basis as Philadelphia keeps sorting through who can stack full practices ahead of the 2026 season.
Smith was back in a helmet and getting in some position work after the hamstring issue that had slowed him, a small but encouraging step for a passing game that still needs its top targets available and sharp. Lemon, meanwhile, stayed out of the full session but kept moving on the side field, running routes and going through the catch circuit as the Eagles continue to monitor a camp picture at wide receiver that is becoming clearer even if it is not settled yet. [Read more 🡒]