Green Bay Packers: former 2x Pro Bowler suddenly retires mid-season
Prior to the 2019 NFL season, the Green Bay Packers made some drastic changes to their roster on the defensive side of the ball. Not only did they use their two first round picks that year on defensive players (Darnell Savage and Rashan Gary), but they also signed three of the biggest names on the free agent market to bolster their defense.
These players were safety Adrian Amos and pass rushers Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith. All three had terrific tenures with Green Bay, though each of them eventually moved on to different teams.
The first to do so was Za’Darius, who, after making two Pro Bowls in his first two seasons with the Packers, had a massive falling out with the organization and ended up being released before his contract ran its course.
Former Green Bay Packers Pro Bowler Za’Darius Smith has retired from the NFL
In his first season with the Packers, Smith had 13.5 sacks and made his first career Pro Bowl. In 2020, he had 12.5 sacks, made the Pro Bowl again, and was named Second Team All-Pro.
But in 2021, his third season with Green Bay, Smith came down with a mysterious back ailment and spent most of the year away from the team. And while he did return at the end of the year and played in their postseason game, it was clear that Smith and the Packers were on their way to a messy divorce.
And when Green Bay released him following the season, he made no secret that he held a grudge against the Packers. He signed with their hated rival, the Minnesota Vikings, for the 2022 season in order to get some sort of revenge against them. Smith had a decent season for Minnesota, notching 10.0 sacks and making his third Pro Bowl.
But since that year, Smith has had trouble sticking with any team. After one full season with Cleveland in 2023, he was traded midway through the 2024 season to the Detroit Lions.
And after the Lions opted not to bring him back in 2025, Smith remained a free agent until after the season started before signing with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Smith played five games and recorded 1.5 sacks for the defending Super Bowl champions this season, but has decided that enough is enough and has called it a career:
BREAKING: Colts Set Sights on Trade Block as Playoff Push Heats Up
The Indianapolis Colts are built to win now — and GM Chris Ballard could look to add veteran help before the deadline.
After a gritty win against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 6, the Indianapolis Colts showed they can win in every fashion. As this team continues to run through the NFL, a deep run in the playoffs is very much on the table.
With Chris Ballard staring down a Lombardi, he might be looking to attack the trade block in an attempt to patch up this squad, add depth, and get this team ready for January. Ballard has always valued development and draft capital, but this team is too good not to take a swing at a legit game-changer.
Let’s take a look at a few trade candidates that could give this team the depth they need. Pro Football Focus’ Bradley Locker listed several NFL players who could be on the trade block and suggested the Colts as a possible fit for five of them.
Starting with my favorite, veteran linebacker Jordyn Brooks is sitting on a 1–5 Miami Dolphins team. Even with an unimpressive defense, Brooks still leads the league in tackles through Week 6.
Brooks has only missed two tackle attempts this season. He’s second in sacks among linebackers, and 13th in pass-rush grade among linebackers with a 76.2.
With Brooks in the final year of his two-year deal and Indianapolis’ 35.1 overall PFF grade at linebacker being the lowest in the league, a trade for a solid backer makes perfect sense.
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Locker also floated a few other veteran linebackers as potential fits for Indianapolis, including 36-year-old Demario Davis and the resurging Jamal Adams — both proven leaders who could add stability to the middle of the defense.
Next, Locker suggests possible trades for veteran tight ends Mark Andrews and David Njoku. But with this current Colts offensive firepower and their more pressing defensive needs, it’s hard to see Ballard targeting a skill position.
There are also a couple of players I like that Locker listed on the trade block but didn’t necessarily connect to Indianapolis. One of those players comes from the same struggling Dolphins team that’s likely to be listening to offers.
I like the idea of Ballard going after cornerback Rasul Douglas, who’s currently averaging his best career PFF grade with an 82.2 on the 2025 season.
Douglas holds a 77.9 PFF coverage grade with three pass breakups across 161 coverage snaps, making him a prime candidate for a Colts secondary that ranks 17th in coverage grade through six weeks.
As the trade deadline approaches, the Colts find themselves in a rare position — built to win now, but still improving every week. Ballard has never been one to make splashy trades, but this roster might be good enough to warrant one.
The window is open — and the AFC is there for the taking. If Indianapolis wants to make a serious playoff push, the time to add talent is now.
