Falcons Coach Stefanski Eyes Za’Darius Smith as Pass Rush Solution, Bidding Against Former Browns Team

Three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Za’Darius Smith disputed reports Sunday that he had agreed to terms with the Cleveland Browns, taking to social media to deny the narrative being pushed by local media outlets. Smith, who has accumulated 70½ sacks over his 11-season career across six different teams, clarified that no deal had been reached while announcing he had a workout scheduled with another club on Monday.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer and Cleveland.com reported over the weekend that Smith was poised to sign with the Browns, with negotiations potentially concluding Monday. However, Smith’s public pushback and his subsequent appearance at the Atlanta Falcons’ facility complicated those plans and created an unexpected bidding war between the two franchises.

Smith spent two seasons with Cleveland, where he started 25 games and recorded 10 sacks along with 27 quarterback hits. The Falcons’ coaching staff, led by first-year head coach Kevin Stefanski—who previously directed Smith with the Browns before being fired from Cleveland—represents a compelling alternative for the veteran defender.

Atlanta faces a more acute need at pass rusher than Cleveland following injuries to first-round picks Jalon Walker, sidelined with a torn ACL for the entire season, and James Pearce, suspended for the first eight games due to NFL conduct policy violations. This gap in the Falcons’ defensive line may give them leverage in pursuit of Smith.

Browns head coach Todd Monken declined to discuss Smith’s status Monday, deferring questions to general manager Andrew Berry. The dynamic creates an intriguing scenario in which a former coach and his previous employer compete for the same talent.