Lions Advised to Bring Back Veteran Edge Rusher to Help Aidan Hutchinson

Lions Need More Help Off the Edge

While Hutchinson was nearing a return late last season when the Lions suffered an early playoff exit, he is now back to full health and ready to follow up what had been an All-Pro quality season cut short too early. Knox suggested that the Lions could re-sign Smith to build more depth off the edge and alleviate some of the pressure that opposing defenses put on Hutchinson.

“While it would be great to have a healthy Hutchinson in training camp and under contract long-term, Detroit should be looking for more at the position. The defense recorded just 37 sacks as a unit last season. Za’Darius Smith ranked second behind Hutchinson with only four,” Knox wrote.

“The Lions released Smith this offseason. Bringing him back or acquiring another pass rusher via free agency or trade—Trey Hendrickson looms as a top trade target—would be wise.”

Others See Strong Fit Between Lions, Za’Darius Smith

Knox is not the only analyst to see a future for Smith in Detroit. ESPN’s Matt Bowen also suggested in May that the Lions could use the veteran depth after largely ignoring the position in April’s NFL draft.

“The Lions took only one edge rusher in the 2025 draft (Boise State’s Ahmed Hassanein), leaving a need for a veteran opposite Aidan Hutchinson,” Bowen wrote. “So even though Detroit released Smith in March, bringing him back on another deal makes a lot of sense.”

Bowen added that Smith was a bright point for the Lions last season after Hutchinson went down, and the team has yet to see how much more impact he can have once Hutchinson is back and occupying the attention of offensive lines.

“Smith was productive after getting traded from Cleveland to Detroit before the deadline last season,” Bowen wrote. “In eight games with the Lions, he had four sacks and 20 pressures. He’s a speed-to-power rusher who can get interior one-on-ones as a standup nose tackle or 3-technique. That’d give Detroit’s new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard more matchup ability up front.”

The Lions have struggled in finding a competent counterpart to Hutchinson. James Houston, another member of the 2022 NFL draft class, had a strong start to his career with the Lions as he racked up 8.0 sacks in seven games that season, but failed to follow it up. Houston was not able to play much outside of passing situations and the team ended up releasing him last November as he struggled to see the field.