The Minnesota Vikings and Pro Bowl pass rusher Za’Darius Smith have had an interesting off-season to say the least. After missing much of 2021 with a back injury, Smith was released by the Green Bay Packers and quickly signed a four-year, $35 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens. However, Smith backed out of the deal to sign a more lucrative one with the Vikings.
Smith had a successful season with the Vikings, posting 10 sacks, 44 total tackles and 15 tackles for loss. His performance earned him his third Pro Bowl honor, and he expressed his appreciation for the Vikings fans in a tweet on Thursday.
Unfortunately, the tweet came with a catch. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Smith has requested his release from the Vikings, likely in pursuit of a more lucrative deal. However, the Vikings are reportedly not interested in cutting him loose, as Smith is still under contract for the next two seasons.
It’s unclear how the situation will resolve, but it’s already an odd look for a player who joined the Vikings under curious circumstances in the first place. Per Over the Cap, Smith was owed a $9.45 million base salary next season with more than $4.5 million in bonuses. His salary cap number for 2023 came out to roughly $15.5 million with $3.3 million in dead money if he were released, bearing out to $12.2 million in cap savings if he’s released. Given that the same site currently has the Vikings at roughly $15.8 million over the cap, the move would have made some sense.
The Vikings will likely have to make a decision soon, as Smith stands to make even more money if he hits free agency after a strong comeback season. Whether he stays with the Vikings, gets his release or reworks his current deal, one thing is certain: it will be interesting to see how the situation resolves.
