Kevin Stefanski reunites with veteran pass rusher in major Falcons move originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Atlanta Falcons have turned to a proven veteran to help stabilize a pass rush suddenly missing two of its most important pieces.
Atlanta announced Tuesday that it signed veteran edge rusher Za’Darius Smith to a one-year contract. The 33-year-old is set to make $6 million, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The move reunites Smith with Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski, who coached him with the Cleveland Browns during the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
More importantly, it gives Atlanta immediate help following significant losses involving Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr.
Falcons respond to Jalon Walker, James Pearce Jr. losses with big veteran signing
Walker suffered a torn ACL during practice and will miss the entire 2026 season. Pearce, meanwhile, was suspended for the first eight games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy following a February domestic violence arrest.
Their absences leave a considerable production gap.
Pearce led Atlanta with 10.5 sacks last season, while Walker contributed 5.5 as the Falcons produced a franchise-record 57 sacks. That marked a dramatic turnaround for a defense that had struggled for years to consistently pressure quarterbacks.
Smith provides experience and a history of production.
Although he recorded only 1.5 sacks across five games with the Philadelphia Eagles last season, Smith has 70.5 career sacks and three double-digit sack seasons. He totaled nine sacks between Cleveland and the Detroit Lions in 2024.
His best season came with the Green Bay Packers in 2019, when Smith registered a career-high 13.5 sacks. He also earned second-team All-Pro honors during his career.
Smith joins a revamped collection of Falcons edge rushers that includes Samson Ebukam, Azeez Ojulari and Cameron Thomas, all signed to one-year contracts during the offseason.
Atlanta also hopes Bralen Trice can finally contribute after consecutive torn ACLs prevented him from playing a regular-season snap during his first two NFL seasons.
Brandon Dorlus offers another option after recording 8.5 sacks from the interior last season. He has worked more frequently at defensive end this summer.
Smith doesn’t solve every problem created by losing Walker and Pearce.
But for a Falcons defense hoping to maintain the pressure that produced 57 sacks last season, adding a veteran with 70.5 career sacks gives Atlanta another proven option at exactly the right time.
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