Earlier this month, former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Za'Darius Smith signed a four-year, $66 million contract with the Green Bay Packers. With a $20 million signing bonus and $34.5 million paid out during the first two years, Smith decided to put that money to good use on March 22, buying his mother Sharon a home in their native Alabama.
https://twitter.com/TheRealZSmith/status/1109185226285174784
Za'Darius Smith talked to Rob Demovsky of ESPN about his — and his mother's — journey:
“When I got the phone call [about the Packers’ contract], I actually had drove into Alabama from Baltimore—14 hours,” Smith said. “And I sat down at my mom’s job, and I was like, ‘Ma, you ready to quit working?’ And one thing she did was say, ‘My bag is already packed.’ So that was pretty cool to do that. … It was a wonderful feeling to tell my mom that — that she could quit working.”
After two years at junior college, Smith transferred to Kentucky and was picked by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round (122nd overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft. The pick used to draft him was acquired from the Detroit Lions in exchange for Haloti Ngata.
After four seasons with Baltimore, Za'Darius Smith reached free agency. Last year, Smith had a breakout season, compiling 45 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and eight sacks. He finished with a Pro Football Focus grade of 71.7, which was the 33rd-best grade for all edge defenders. With the Packers cutting Nick Perry and letting Clay Matthews sign with the Los Angeles Rams, the Packers are counting on Smith and newly signed edge rusher Preston Smith to get after the QB on a consistent basis.
“I’m going to do my best. I’m going to do what I can do,” Smith said. “Coaches know what I’m capable of doing, so I’m going to continue to work hard, stay after practice, do the little things right, and what I’m bringing to the team is leadership and accountability, so I’m going to do the right thing and I’m going to continue to put up numbers, hopefully.”
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