The Detroit Lions acquired veteran defensive end Za’Darius Smith at the NFL trade deadline last season, but then released him in a salary cap saving move in March. The Lions created $5 million in cap space with the move.
But on Sunday, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox again urged the Lions to potentially re-sign Smith for additional depth in 2025.
“The Detroit Lions should also consider bringing back Smith, who spent the second half of 2024 with the franchise,” Knox wrote. “The Lions need depth with both Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport returning from season-ending injuries.
“General manager Brad Holmes has hinted that bringing back Smith is an option.”
Smith posted 12 combined tackles, including three for loss with the Lions last season. He also had 10 quarterback hits and four sacks in eight games.
The defensive end will turn 33 years old in September. He has made the Pro Bowl three times and has earned a second-team All-Pro nomination in his 10-year NFL career.
Why the Lions Could Bring Back DE Za’Darius Smith
This isn’t the first time Knox called on the Lions to pursue a reunion with Smith. On July 19, Knox identified the Lions as a potential landing spot for the free agent defensive end.
“While Detroit allowed Smith to walk early this offseason, they should strongly consider bringing him back now,” Knox wrote. “The Lions did little to bolster their pass rush aside from re-signing Marcus Davenport, and Smith is probably the best complement to Aidan Hutchinson that they’re going to find this late in the offseason—barring a trade for a player like Trey Hendrickson.”
One could argued if the Lions really wanted to keep Smith, they wouldn’t have released him to save cap space. But all that move really indicates is Detroit didn’t see the veteran worth the contract he signed with the Cleveland Browns last offseason.
It doesn’t indicate that the Lions aren’t interested in Smith being part of their team at a lower price.
Over 17 games with the Lions and Browns last season, Smith posted nine sacks, nine tackles for loss and 17 quarterback hits. Even though his last Pro Bowl season was three years ago, Smith appears capable of providing quality depth for a contender this fall.
The Lions expect Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport to start at defensive end this season. But both are returning from season-ending injuries from 2024, so it wouldn’t be the worst idea for Detroit to have insurance at the position.
Smith Previously Indicated Desire to Return to Lions
Smith remains unsigned with the first week of the preseason about to conclude. Veterans in that situation typically try to generate a market for themselves.
But Smith doesn’t appear to be doing that, and previously, he has stated how much he would like to return to the Lions this season.
“We both know where I want to be,” Za’Darius Smith told USA Today’s Tyler Dragon in June. “Hopefully I can get back to Detroit because the coaching staff and everybody in the front office are great.
“When I’m there I feel like a leader and like I can influence the young guys and do great things. Hopefully I can get back to where I want to be in Detroit.”
The Lions have expressed bringing back Smith as well. But on August 6, Lions general manager Brad Holmes laid out potential obstacles in the veteran returning to Detroit.
“Za’Darius did a lot of good things last year for us and we said we’re going to keep in contact with his agent, but everything’s not just one-sided,” Holmes said, via Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper. “Za’Darius has expectations, the team has expectations, so sometimes it takes a while for those things to get on the same page.
“Especially a guy that’s been in the league as long as he has, I’m not saying that he doesn’t want to be in training camp, but if he misses some time, there’s obviously still interest there and we’ve been keeping in touch.”
