The Cleveland Browns have taken a fresh look at a familiar face on the defensive line, working out veteran edge rusher Za’Darius Smith on Thursday, per Ian Rapoport of NFL media.
The session comes months after Smith stepped away from the game and later became available again, raising the possibility of a return to the team where he previously made an impact.
Smith announced his retirement in October 2025 while with the Philadelphia Eagles, spending the remainder of that season on the reserve/retired list. The Eagles released him from that designation in June, clearing the way for him to explore a comeback.
At 34 years old this September, the 11-year veteran has expressed interest in continuing his career. Cleveland represents a natural landing spot given his prior tenure there from 2023 to 2024, which ended with a midseason trade to the Detroit Lions.
During his first season with the Browns, Smith lined up opposite Myles Garrett and produced a solid 5.5-sack campaign that helped the team reach the playoffs. That performance earned him a two-year contract with $12 million guaranteed heading into 2024.
He finished that year with nine sacks split between Cleveland and Detroit. Overall, Smith’s résumé includes three seasons with double-digit sacks, three Pro Bowl selections, 98 career starts, and 70.5 sacks across stops with the Ravens, Packers, Vikings, Browns, Lions, and briefly the Eagles.
The current Browns roster looks different without Garrett, who was traded to the Rams earlier this offseason. Jared Verse now anchors the pass rush, while Alex Wright remains under a three-year, $33 million deal signed last November.
Cleveland did not select a defensive end in the draft or make significant free-agent additions at the position, leaving room for experienced depth. Smith would likely compete for a rotational role behind the younger starters, though questions linger about his readiness after the abrupt end to his short Eagles stint, where he made only two starts before retiring.
General manager Andrew Berry previously brought Smith to Cleveland from Minnesota, so the organization already has firsthand knowledge of his abilities and work ethic.
The coaching staff has changed, and the team sits in a different competitive window amid an ongoing quarterback situation involving Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders. Still, the workout signals Cleveland’s willingness to evaluate proven veterans who can contribute immediately.
Smith joins a free-agent market that still includes names such as Von Miller, Joey Bosa, Leonard Floyd, and others.
Whether this latest reunion materializes remains uncertain, but the interest from a former team underscores that the veteran edge rusher retains value if he proves he is fully committed to returning.
