Vikings, Za'Darius Smith agree to three-year, $42M deal

Standout pass rusher Za'Darius Smith jumps from the Packers to the division-rival Vikings. NP NAME-USA TODAY NETWORK

Vikings, two-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Za'Darius Smith agree to three-year, $42M deal

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 3/22/22

After shifting gears and backing out of his reported four-year, $35 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens last week, two-time Pro Bowler Za'Darius Smith has reportedly decided where he wants to play during he 2022 season and beyond.

Za'Darius Smith's deal with the Vikings includes a base value of $42 million over three years with incentives to push above $47 million. Big deal for Minnesota and new coach Kevin O'Connell.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 22, 2022

Smith has spent the last three seasons with one of the Vikings biggest rivals, the Green Bay Packers, earning Pro Bowl nods in 2019 and 2020. Smith was selected in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Ravens and played with the club for four years.

The native of Montgomery, Ala., suffered a back injury during Green Bay's Week 1 contest in 2021 and ended up being placed on injured reserve. Smith missed the remainder of the regular season, but made it back for the Packers divisional-round game against the San Francisco 49ers, recording a sack and playing 19 snaps.

He has registered 227 tackles, 112 quarterback hits and 44.5 sacks in 91 career regular-season contests. Smith posted career-highs in tackles (55) and sacks (13.5) in 2019, and during the 2020 season, he led the Green Bay in quarterback hits (23), sacks (12.5), tackles for a loss (12) and forced fumbles (four).

More must-reads: