The NFL’s Runaway Bride Leaves Another Groom at the Altar

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. Za’Darius Smith agrees, more or less, to a homecoming with a former employer. The reunion is so close you can practically smell the cake at the reception. The team’s beat writers are typing up the “welcome back” stories. And then — poof — Z is gone, off to marry somebody else.

On Tuesday, the Cleveland Browns became the latest jilted groom. Smith, who un-retired this month after walking away from the Eagles just five games into the 2025 season, worked out for the Browns, passed his physical, and was — per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com — expected to fly to Cleveland on Sunday and be under contract shortly thereafter. The Browns could have “Z” back in the fold in time for joint practices. It was practically a done deal.

Practically.

Instead, Smith hopped a flight south, worked out for the Falcons on Monday, and by Tuesday morning his agent was announcing a one-year deal in Atlanta — reportedly $6 million base with upside to $8 million. He’ll reunite with Kevin Stefanski, his old Cleveland head coach, who himself was shown the door in Berea this offseason. So to recap: the Browns lost their coach to Atlanta, then lost their pass rusher to their old coach in Atlanta. Somewhere, the Factory of Sadness just added a new wing.

And look, who among us could blame the man for choosing just about any NFL city over Cleveland? The Falcons had need (Jalon Walker‘s knee, James Pearce Jr.’s eight-game suspension), they had money, and they had a familiar face on the headset. Business is business.

But here in Baltimore, we’ve seen this movie before. We had front-row seats for the premiere.

March 2022: The Original Jilting

Rewind to the spring of 2022. Smith, a former Ravens fourth-round pick out of Kentucky who cut his teeth at The Castle before cashing in with Green Bay, was released by the Packers. The Ravens, sentimental souls that they are, moved quickly to bring their guy home — a four-year, $35 million pact that could have climbed to $50 million with incentives. It was reported. It was celebrated. Ozzie’s old draft pick, back in purple. What could go wrong?

Everything, as it turns out. Per The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec, the Ravens believed they had a deal — and then Smith simply changed his mind and wandered back onto the open market. ESPN’s Jamison Hensley reported that Z developed “second thoughts” after watching Von Miller and Chandler Jones sign monster contracts elsewhere. Translation: the moment the neighbor’s wedding registry looked fancier, our boy tore up the invitations.

Five days later, Smith signed with the Vikings — three years, $42 million, up to $47 million with incentives. Fourteen million a year instead of the $8.75 million average Baltimore had offered. Minnesota literally lit up the marquee outside their facility for his visit, and Adam Thielen tweeted out the recruiting pitch. The Ravens, meanwhile, were left holding the bouquet and a hole on the edge.

Can’t fault a man for maximizing his market. That’s the business. But there’s a right way to do it — and agreeing to terms, letting the reports fly, and then ghosting the franchise that drafted you isn’t it. Handshakes used to mean something.

A Pattern, Not a Coincidence

Once is a negotiation. Twice is a personality. Smith has now, on two separate occasions, been deep enough into contract talks with a former team that the deal was reported as done or nearly done — and both times he bolted at the eleventh hour for a shinier offer. The Ravens in 2022. The Browns in 2026. Both teams that drafted or employed him. Both left standing at the altar adjusting their boutonnieres while Z sped off in the limo.

Add in the fact that he signed a one-year deal with Philadelphia last September and retired five weeks later — “stepping into the next season of his life,” as his Instagram put it, apparently a very short season — and a picture emerges. Za’Darius Smith’s word is good right up until a better word comes along.

The Browns, for their part, have now whiffed on Jadeveon Clowney (who went back to Houston) and Smith in the span of a few weeks, all while trying to replace Myles Garrett‘s production with hope and Jared Verse. Welcome to our 2022, Cleveland. The good news is the sting fades. The better news, at least from where I sit: the Ravens dodged a four-year commitment to a player who has since been traded twice, released, retired, and un-retired. Sometimes the runaway bride does you a favor.

Enjoy Atlanta, Z. Kevin Stefanski seems like a nice enough groom. Just don’t be surprised if he keeps the receipt on the ring.

The post The NFL’s Runaway Bride Leaves Another Groom at the Altar appeared first on Russell Street Report.