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Eagles Sign Veteran Edge Rusher, Ex-Lions Star, in Free Agency

Philadelphia, PA – April 4, 2025, 2:30 AM PDT – The Philadelphia Eagles have bolstered their defensive front in a major way, signing veteran edge rusher Za’Darius Smith to a one-year, $10 million deal, league sources confirmed to ESPN early Friday. Coming off a productive nine-sack season with the Detroit Lions, Smith now joins the reigning Super Bowl LIX champions, who are reloading their pass rush following key offseason departures.

Smith, 32, became one of free agency’s top edge defenders after being released by Detroit in March, a move Lions GM Brad Holmes described as “amicable” due to salary cap pressures. Smith had been slated to make $11 million in 2025, but the Eagles swooped in with cap flexibility—holding $18.125 million at the time—to sign the proven pass-rusher at a discount.

“Za’Darius brings intensity and experience,” said Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. “He’s exactly what we need.”

Filling a Crucial Void

Philadelphia’s elite pass rush, which finished second in the NFL with 62 sacks in 2024, was hit hard this offseason. Josh Sweat signed a 4-year, $76.4 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals, and longtime veteran Brandon Graham is expected to retire. Sweat alone accounted for 10.5 total sacks, including playoffs. Smith’s 9 sacks in 2024 and 36 pressures in just 8 games with Detroit offer a seamless plug-and-play solution.

Smith will join a rotational front that includes rising sophomore Nolan Smith Jr. (6.5 sacks last year), as well as Jalyx Hunt, Azeez Ojulari, and Joshua Uche. With 60.5 career sacks, Smith’s blend of production and leadership will be key as Fangio refines his aggressive scheme.

Fan Buzz & Cap-Savvy Move

Eagles fans erupted on X following the signing.

“Smith with Nolan Smith? Our D-line’s stacked!” one post read.
“Howie’s cooking again!” another user (@EaglesNation) joked, praising GM Howie Roseman’s offseason savvy.

At 32 (and turning 33 in September), Smith isn’t a long-term piece, but his $10 million deal fits snugly under the cap and provides a short-term jolt as the Eagles chase back-to-back Super Bowls.

Smith's arrival underscores Philly’s win-now mentality. With Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, and A.J. Brown powering the offense, Roseman is ensuring the defense stays elite. In a stacked NFC, Za’Darius Smith could be the X-factor that keeps the Lombardi Trophy in Philadelphia.

Packers' Star QB Refuses MVP Title to Fully Focus on Team in Tough Phase
Can you believe it? Jordan Love, the "red-hot" quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, is on track to compete for MVP with +1000 odds at DraftKings – but this guy is "refusing" personal glory to pour all his energy into the team struggling with a "hellish" schedule! Is this a heroic act or just a ploy? Read now to uncover the "truth" behind it! In the Super Bowl era, the Packers have produced three MVP legends: Bart Starr (1966), Brett Favre (1995-1997), and Aaron Rodgers (2011, 2014, 2020, 2021). Now, Jordan Love has a chance to become the fourth, putting the Packers on par with the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts – the only team with four QB MVPs like Johnny Unitas, Earl Morrall, Bert Jones, and Peyton Manning. With his current "explosive" form, Love ranks fourth in the NFL for passer rating (105.4), tied for fifth in touchdown passes (22), with only four interceptions – the fewest among QBs starting all 13 games, and a 67.1% completion rate ranking seventh. But instead of "dreaming" of MVP, Love seems to be "rejecting" it! In a recent interview, he emphasized: "These are the most important games of the season, obviously with a lot of things coming down to playoff seeding and the division race, so this is the important football. I think it’s everybody, we keep stacking and keep getting better and better throughout the season and learn from the mistakes we make and overcome some of the obstacles. Just keep stacking and trying to find ways to get better every day is something that’s been helping us." These words are like a clear "declaration": Love doesn't care about MVP, but only wants to focus on the team in its "tough phase" with a 9-3-1 record, trailing the Rams (10-3) in the NFC. Head coach Matt LaFleur also "sings along": "Yeah, he’s playing really good football right now. That’s obviously important and it’s going to be important moving forward." And offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich praises the consistency: "I would say just the consistency that he’s had has been great... Just being a consistent, efficient quarterback is one thing that I’ve been really pleased with." But it's Packers defensive end Micah Parsons who "reveals" why Love deserves but is "overlooking" MVP: "I definitely think he deserves recognition... If you go off strength of schedule, how he's played and with him missing half his receivers, I think that goes unnoticed, too. Some of the things he did without (Christian Watson) early in the year, then (Jayden Reed), so this guy was missing two of his starting receivers majority of the year and they're just now getting back in these last eight weeks of the stretch, so I definitely think he deserves a lot more credit and I'm just happy I'm able to be a part of this journey with him." Currently, Matthew Stafford of the Rams leads the MVP race with -180 odds, 35 touchdown passes (far ahead of Dak Prescott with 26), passer rating 113.1, and only four interceptions. Drake Maye of the Patriots follows with +200, passer rating 111.9, 3,412 passing yards, and 23 touchdowns. Love, with a four-game winning streak (nine touchdowns, one interception, passer rating 112.1), could stage a comeback if he maintains "red-hot form" – especially in the upcoming two "epic" games: away at Denver (11-2) and Chicago (9-4). If the Packers leap to the NFC's No. 1 seed (likely needing a 4-0 finish), while the Rams stumble against Detroit (8-5) and Seattle (10-3), or the Patriots slip against Buffalo (9-4) and Baltimore (6-7), Love would have a shot at MVP. But with his "humble" attitude, does Love really want to "accept" that title? Or is he sacrificing personally to save the Packers from the "tough phase"? The 2025 NFL drama is "hotter than ever"! Do you think Love is "playing a trick" to motivate the team? Comment now and follow for the "shocking" outcome of the MVP race!