DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - Looking to upgrade their pass rush and find a replacement for the recently departed Randy Gregory, the Cowboys looked to make a 'strong push' for free agent edge Za'Darius Smith.
Now, however, that pursuit is reportedly over, with Smith agreeing to a three-year deal worth $47 million with the Minnesota Vikings.
At one point, Smith was set to sign a four-year, $35 million deal worth up to $50 million with the Baltimore Ravens. However, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network recently reported that the deal was off.
Smith's addition to the defensive line would have been huge for a Cowboys team who believed they were bringing back pass rusher Randy Gregory, only for the deal to fall apart.
Smith, 29, only appeared in one regular season game last season before being placed on injured reserve with a back injury. He underwent surgery but was able to return for the Packers playoff loss to the 49ers.
Smith was a Pro Bowler in 2019 and 2020 after recording 26 total sacks. He joined Aaron Donald and T.J. Watt as the only players with 12-plus sacks each in those two seasons, per ESPN.
