I am sorry to see him released. But he had to know it was going to happen when his contract was restructured last year.

Back injuries are such a tricky thing. He may have fully recovered. I kind of doubt it. I don't think the Packers are against resigning him on a prove it deal but I am certain there are a couple of teams out there willing to back up the Brink's truck and dump a load on him no questions asked.

Z will test the market and if there isn't an eye popping offer out there he may come back. We shall see.

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How much difference a year makes... a year ago I was sure they'd be keeping Za'Darius and getting rid of Preston.

But Packers don't trust lineman with back injuries (and edge rushers are lineman even if you call them OLB), back injury and Packers want to get far away from Za'Darius.

Also, in this defensive scheme, normally they look more for long versatile edge rushers, more like Preston. So he fits the scheme well also, and he's got a big contract, but it's not elite huge contract which Packers need to stop over paying everyone and it was nice to be able to keep Preston and Campbell on large but not elite contracts.

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His 2019 season was absolutely sublime. It seemed like whenever they needed a big stop or pressure on 3rd down, Z was the one making the play. His game vs the Vikings on MNF to win the division is one of the top defensive performances in team history. I don't think the Vikings o-line could block them that night, even if they tried 5 vs 1.

Definitely gonna miss him but I get the reasons why he was let go.

Edit: He also deserves a lot of credit for helping rebuild locker room morale post-McCarthy

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I heard the Ravens are interested in having him return. We shall see.