Falcons sign Za'Darius Smith to bolster starting defense

The Atlanta Falcons signed edge rusher Za'Darius Smith to a one-year, $6 million deal ahead of the 2026 NFL season. Smith, who recently came out of retirement, replaces suspended James Pearce Jr. for the first eight games. Smith had nine sacks in 2024 but played only five games last season. The Falcons lost both of their starting edge rushers and were coming off a 27-7 defeat to the Denver Broncos. Atlanta's starters are expected to play in the third preseason game against the Miami Dolphins.

• 6:03 PMYahoo Sports — Projecting the Falcons' starting defense with EDGE Za'Darius Smith