Kansas City Chiefs fans are likely tired of watching every other team stock up on edge rushers in an offseason when Brett Veach said the defensive line was going to be his primary focus. The biggest frustration of all, however, likely came on Wednesday afternoon when the Baltimore Ravens convinced Zadarius Smith to sign with them on a multi-year contract.
The Chiefs had been connected to Smith, who’d spent the last few seasons with the Green Bay Packers, at multiple points in the weeks leading up to the start of free agency via rumors largely circulated by Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network.
The idea of adding Smith made sense from the Chiefs’ perspective given the need for someone to start opposite Frank Clark on the edge and the fact that he was likely going to be a bit cheaper on the open market given the fact that he played only a single game during the regular season due to injury.
The Kansas City Chiefs missed out on Zadarius Smith in free agency despite the constant rumors connecting both parties.
Instead, just like several other offseasons in the past, the Ravens were the team that got in the way here. NFL reporter Adam Schefter noted the terms of the deal as a four-year contract worth $35 million but can max out with incentives at $50. Given the solid annual value, it’s odd to think that was out of the Chiefs’ reach.
Then again, the Chiefs have been quite silent so far, save for a re-signing here and there of their own players. Frank Clark got his contract restructured, but the Chiefs have also watched the rest of their own division load up with Khalil Mack to the Chargers, Randy Gregory to the Broncos, and Chandler Jones to the Raiders.
Smith had 26 total sacks for the Packers in the two full seasons before the injury-plagued 2021 campaign.