A Za’Darius Smith return to the Browns? Free agent update seems to surprise edge rusher

The Cleveland Browns search for help at defensive end may have ended with a reunion. What started with a visit from former DE Jadeveon Clowney, only to be spurned as the former top overall pick returned to the Houston Texans, continued with a workout with DE Tyus Bowser, who hasn’t played a full season since 2021 and was out all of last year, and then a visit from former Browns DE Za’Darius Smith might have found the finish line.

Emphasis, at least for now, on “might.”

Following Cleveland’s opening preseason loss to the Chicago Bears, where the pass rush was inconsistent to non-existent, Mary Kay Cabot is reporting that Smith is likely to return to the Browns:

Cabot, the long-time beat reporter, saw her report aggregated (as we are doing here) across a number of platforms, including Instagram. For a short time before it was deleted, Smith seemed to express confusion about Cabot’s report in a reply to the IG post, stating he had not signed and has a workout coming up on Monday with another team.

That comment has since been deleted, but there has been no more reporting on Smith’s plans since Cabot’s initial report.

Cabot noted in the report how Smith would fit:

In the Browns’ attack-minded defense, Smith would have a chance to get back into the eight or nine sack range, and would be a tremendous help to Verse, who’s eager to learn from top veteran edge rushers. A two-time Pro Bowler, Verse is only in his third season and has relied primarily on his power and explosiveness off the ball. But he’s hoping to add to his pass-rush repertoire, and Smith would be just the man for the job.

Smith surprisingly retired last year while a part of the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Browns traded for Smith in May of 2023. During his time in Cleveland, Smith had 10.5 sacks, 50 tackles, and 27 quarterback hits. The Browns traded Smith and a 2026 seventh-round draft pick to the Lions in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick at the trade deadline in 2024.

In his 11 years in the NFL, Smith compiled 343 tackles, 176 QB hits, 87 tackles for loss, and 70.5 sacks.

We will continue to cover Smith’s free agency and see if the reunion in Berea, Ohio becomes official.

Do you think Smith will help the Browns in 2026 and can help Jared Verse grow at the position or think the Browns should focus on younger players this year?