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Za'Darius Smith works out for Falcons after he was expected to sign with Browns

Falcons work out Za'Darius Smith, a veteran pass rusher who was expected to sign with Browns

First seen Aug 17, 2026 · 10:08 PM UTC · last updated Aug 17 11:24 PM

Scoring Zone's Take

Za'Darius Smith is essentially a non-factor in fantasy formats, but the transaction chatter is worth a note if your league counts sacks or uses IDP scoring. The reporting here is thin and speculative at best — he was reportedly expected to sign with the Browns, yet he's now working out for the Falcons instead, with both sources carrying only moderate confidence and no confirmed signing. That's a landing-spot situation still very much in flux.

For draft prep purposes, treat Smith as unrostered and unranked until a deal is finalized. If he lands in Atlanta, his role and snap count would likely start behind more established pass rushers on that depth chart, capping his early-season IDP upside even in a best-case scenario. If Cleveland still ends up as the destination, that situation might offer a clearer path to reps given their edge-rusher needs, but nothing is locked in either way.

Actionable takeaway: don't spend a draft pick or FAAB-equivalent attention on Smith right now in standard leagues — he doesn't matter there at all. In deep IDP or dynasty formats, put him on your watchlist rather than your roster. Once his signing is confirmed and you know the depth chart he's walking into, revisit his value; a starting role would make him a late-round IDP flier, while a backup role makes him droppable/ignorable. Confidence in any specific outcome here is low given the conflicting reports, so avoid overreacting until there's an official announcement.

The Falcons worked out veteran pass rusher Za'Darius Smith on Monday, according to the NFL's personnel notice.

Coverage from Yahoo Sports Nfl · read original