Edge rusher Za’Darius Smith stated firmly that he wants to return to the Detroit Lions for the 2025 NFL season.
The Detroit Lions’ pass rush suffered significant setbacks due to injuries in the 2024 NFL season.
First, Marcus Davenport was sidelined for the remainder of the year after being signed to a one-year deal during the offseason. This occurred in Week 3. Things then worsened when the team lost star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson for the rest of the season in Week 5.
Given these defensive absences, the Lions realized they needed to make a move before the 2024 trade deadline. They traded a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for Za’Darius Smith and a 2026 seventh-round pick.
Smith provided a much-needed boost to the pass rush, recording four sacks and 15 pressures across eight regular-season games.
With another year left on his contract, Smith’s future in Detroit is uncertain, as the Lions could opt to part ways with him in the offseason. However, his $4.01 million cap hit, as reported by Spotrac, makes him an affordable option if the team wants to retain him for 2025. The Lions could save the entire cap hit by releasing him.
On Instagram, Smith expressed his desire to stay with the Lions: “2024 didn’t go as planned at all; we fell short of the outcome we had planned for! 2025 gives us another opportunity to adjust and go for that championship! I enjoyed every moment with my boys, and even though some faces have changed for the new season, I hope to be a part of this great organization for the future!”
Recently, many have speculated that the Lions will select an edge rusher early in the 2025 NFL Draft. Yet, even if they do, it might still be wise for the Lions to keep Smith. He was a solid contributor during his time with the team, and retaining him could provide insurance if a new addition doesn’t make an immediate impact.
For the 2024 season, Smith recorded 25 pressures and nine sacks. It’s hard to find that kind of production for a cap hit of just $4 million.
While improving the pass rush remains a priority for the Lions’ offseason, they could still enhance it while keeping Smith on the roster for one more year.
