The Washington Commanders have taken a peculiar approach in free agency so far by largely neglecting the most critical defensive position on the field. This could be part of a larger strategy, possibly hinting at how the team intends to use the No. 29 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. However, letting last season’s sack leader, Dante Fowler, sign with the Dallas Cowboys for a modest 1-year, $8 million deal raises doubts about the existence of such a grand plan.
Fortunately for the Commanders, several top-notch edge rushers remain available in free agency, including former NFL All-Pro and 3-time Pro Bowler Za’Darius Smith.
On March 21, ESPN’s Matt Bowen ranked Smith No. 14 on his list of the Top 25 available free agents. Bowen highlighted Smith’s strong 2023 season, with nine sacks and 38 pressures across stints with the Browns and Lions. He noted that Smith is a versatile rusher who can bring speed-to-power and can also line up in different positions to create favorable matchups.
Despite being 32 years old — Fowler is 30 — Smith could be a good fit for the Commanders on a potential 1-year, $10 million contract.
Smith, standing at 6-foot-4 and 270 pounds, was an All-SEC selection at Kentucky before the Baltimore Ravens picked him in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He had a standout 2018 season with 8.5 sacks and later signed a lucrative 4-year, $66 million contract with the Green Bay Packers in 2019. Over the last three seasons, Smith has played for the Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, and Detroit Lions. After missing almost all of the 2021 season due to a back injury, he has tallied 24.5 sacks in the past three years, including 10 sacks in 2022.
Smith has earned $79.1 million in career earnings through the 2024 season, reflecting his successful career.
There is also another potential route for the Commanders to acquire a top-tier edge rusher through trade. The Cincinnati Bengals have given All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson permission to seek a trade, with the team reportedly looking for either a first-round pick or a collection of Day 2 picks in return.
Hendrickson is coming off a career year in which he led the NFL with 17.5 sacks, earned his first All-Pro selection, and made his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl. Spotrac estimates his market value at around a 2-year, $60 million contract, though this number could be on the low end following Cleveland’s Myles Garrett signing a 4-year, $160 million extension. Hendrickson could be targeting a deal that would pay him around $35 million per year, potentially making him the third-highest paid edge rusher in the NFL behind Garrett and Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers.