Falcons sign Za'Darius Smith to strengthen defensive depth
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 19, 2026, 11:01 AM
Last updated Aug 19, 2026

The Atlanta Falcons have signed defensive end Za'Darius Smith to a one-year deal as of August 19, 2026. Smith, a three-time Pro Bowler, has recorded 70.5 career sacks and brings valuable experience after playing for several teams, including the Eagles, Ravens, and Packers. His addition comes after a season where he managed only 1.5 sacks in five games, as he was previously retired. The Falcons aim to improve their edge rush rotation with this signing.
- •Za'Darius Smith joins the Falcons as a defensive end.
- •He has extensive NFL experience, including three Pro Bowl selections.
- •Smith's recent season saw limited action with the Eagles.
- •The signing aims to bolster the Falcons' edge rush rotation.
- •Smith was technically retired before the Falcons contacted him.
- 11:01 AMYahoo Sports — Falcons share highlight reel for their newest defensive piece
"Highlights show what Za'Darius Smith brings to the Falcons defense
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
FootballNFL•Oct 20, 2026, 3:16 PMAnnouncers revealed for Patriots' Week 7 matchup against Bears
NFL•Oct 20, 2026, 2:54 PMTitans release DT Jordan Elliott following 'incident' at team facility
NFL•Oct 20, 2026, 2:51 PMGood, bad and ugly coming out of Packers' Week 6 win over Cowboys
NFL•Oct 20, 2026, 2:49 PMNFL power rankings Week 7: Bills won again but was it enough to impress?
NFL•Oct 20, 2026, 2:34 PMDan Campbell: Penei Sewell's switch to left tackle has been outstanding
NFL•Oct 20, 2026, 2:15 PMReport card grades for every NFC team in NFL Week 6