Breakdown of DE Za’Darius Smith’s new contract with the Browns

The Browns ensured Myles Garrett has a reliable pass-rushing partner for a couple more years.

We are continuing to break down contracts signed by Cleveland Browns’ free agents this offseason, and one of the team’s biggest retentions came when they re-signed DE Za’Darius Smith to a 2-year deal worth $23 million.

• First, we need to remember what GM Andrew Berry did when he signed Smith to a one-year deal in 2023: he included a dummy year, setting up the situation where he would be a post-June 1st cut in 2024 for salary cap purposes. They didn’t end up needing to do that because they re-signed him to a two-year, $23 million deal this offseason. However, Smith still had $7.468 million in signing bonuses allocated to the cap over the 2024-2027 seasons ($1.867 million per year).
• On Smith’s new deal, he is getting an additional $10.79 million signing bonus that is spread out over five years ($2.158 million per year). That explains why the year 2028 is showing a signing bonus only in that amount, while the previous four years show the combined signing bonuses ($2.158M + $1.867M = $4.025M).
• Smith has a $6.99 million option bonus due to him on the 3rd day of the 2025 league year. If picked up, it would be spread out over five void years. He also has a $2 million roster bonus due to him on the 3rd day of the 2025 league year.
• He has a $30,000 per game roster bonus due to him for the 2025 season.
• Only $12 million of the contract is fully guaranteed — his signing bonus, and his $1.21 million base salary in 2024.
• Cleveland is set to owe a hefty $15.8 million in dead cap during the 2026 offseason for Smith.