EAGAN, Minn. -- Za’Darius Smith is officially no longer a member of the Minnesota Vikings. The 30-year-old edge rusher passed a physical and the Vikings were able to finalize a trade that has been a long time coming.
The announcement came via social media on Tuesday morning with the Vikings sending Smith to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick in 2024 and a fifth-round pick in 2025. In addition, the Vikings also parted ways with a sixth-round pick in 2025 and a seventh-round pick in 2025.
This move will save the Vikings a good amount of money as Smith was set to make a $9.45 million base salary this season while carrying a $15.5 million cap hit. He reportedly has agreed to a restructured deal and it sounds like the Vikings will be picking up some of the money to help facilitate the transaction.
As impressive as Smith was at times last season, his productivity plummeted late in the season as he battled through a host of injuries. He had 9 1/2 sacks from Week 1 to Week 10 last season, but finished 2023 with 10 sacks in total.
Asked earlier this offseason about Smith and his future with the Vikings, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah wouldn’t commit, instead replying, “We’re in ongoing communication with him and his representatives.”
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Ultimately, those conversations landed Smith elsewhere, and the Vikings will now move forward without him in the mix.
Vikings sign locals
After impressing at rookie minicamp over the weekend, fullback Zach Ojile and offensive lineman Sam Schlueter have signed with the Vikings. They both participated in rookie minicamp on a tryout basis.
As a result, Ojile and Schlueter will be present at TCO Performance Center throughout organized team activities, and potentially for training camp in a couple of months.
The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Ojile hails from Blaine and played collegiately at Minnesota Duluth. He may be trying to follow in the footsteps of fellow fullback C.J. Ham, who is from Duluth and who started his career with the Vikings on a tryout basis, as well. Ham played college ball at Augustana.
The 6-foot-6, 310-pound Schlueter hails from Victoria and played collegiately at Minnesota. He spent some time with the San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets last season after going undrafted.
More scheduling updates
After releasing their regular-season schedule last week, the Vikings are still in the process are finalizing their preseason schedule. They will travel to play the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field before staying home to play the Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Though the details for the preseason opener against the Seahawks are still being finalized, and should be released in the coming days, the Vikings announced that they will host the Titans on Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. and the Cardinals on Aug. 26 at noon.
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