Packers OLB Za’Darius Smith Believed To Be Unhappy With Contract

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, citing a league source, reports that Packers OLB Za’Darius Smith is believed to be unhappy about Green Bay exercising the automatic conversion option in his contract that converted a good portion of his salary and increased his 2022 cap figure to over $28 million.

According to Florio, Smith knows that this creates a situation where he could be released or traded next year.

Florio’s source adds that Smith is believed to be not happy that the Packers didn’t pay out the 2021 guarantee of $14.76 million in March.

It’s worth mentioning that the Packers could always sign Smith to an extension that will lower his 2022 cap figure instead of cutting or trading him, but they will have to figure something out with his contract one way or another.

Smith recently changed his agent and tweeted on Friday: “I need a realtor in GreenBay ASAP!!” Smith later downplayed the significance of the tweet.

Smith, 28, is a former fourth-round pick of the Ravens back in 2015. He played out the final year of his four-year rookie contract before agreeing to a four-year, $66 million contract with the Packers in 2019. 

Smith had two years remaining on his contract and was set to make a base salary of $10.25 million for the 2021 season.

In 2020, Smith appeared in all 16 games for the Packers and recorded 52 tackles, 12.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, two recoveries and two passes defended.

We’ll have more regarding Smith as the news is available.