👀 Detroit’s Secret Solution: The Answer to Their Struggles is Already Here

The Detroit Lions have roared into the 2025-26 NFL season with high expectations—and for good reason. This team looks solid across the board. But if there’s one nagging worry among fans and analysts alike, it’s the edge rush depth. And guess what? The perfect answer is already staring them right in the face.

🏈 The Hutchinson Effect

First, let’s give credit where it’s due: Aidan Hutchinson is a beast. Despite missing nearly 12 full games last season with a brutal injury, he still racked up 7.5 sacks—enough to lead the team. Now, coming off his recovery, Hutchinson doesn’t just look like his old self—reports say he looks even quicker and stronger.

As Mike Payton of A to Z Sports put it, Hutchinson “actually looks like a guy who has gained a step, if anything. Hutchinson being this good makes players around him better.” And that’s already paying off with guys like DJ Reader and Tyleik Williams, who’ve been turning heads in training camp.

But here’s the thing: even if Hutchinson is Superman, the Lions still need someone else who can fly.

🔥 The Za’Darius Smith Opportunity

Enter Za’Darius Smith, the pass-rushing powerhouse Detroit traded for mid-season last year. In just eight games for the Lions, Smith put up 4 sacks—part of a 9-sack campaign overall in 2024. He fit seamlessly into the defense and, more importantly, brought swagger and leadership to the locker room.

And here’s the kicker: he wants to come back.

“We both know where I want to be,” Smith told USA Today Sports’ 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.”

If you’re the Lions, how do you ignore a proven veteran who wants to sign on the dotted line?

⏳ Why the Wait?

So why hasn’t Detroit swooped in yet?

According to GM Brad Holmes, it’s not that there’s no interest. Speaking on 97.1 The Ticket, Holmes revealed the Lions are keeping in contact with Smith’s agent but admitted it’s a balancing act:

“Za’Darius has expectations, the team has expectations, so sometimes it takes a while for those things to get on the same page…there’s obviously still interest there, and we’ve been keeping in touch.”

In other words: it’s complicated. Smith wants the right deal, and the Lions want the right price.

🤔 The Case for Signing Smith Now

No matter how promising Hutchinson’s return looks, the NFL is brutal—injuries happen, and depth can disappear overnight. With Smith still sitting in free agency, the Lions have a golden opportunity to lock in a player who already knows the system, brings leadership, and can give Hutchinson the support he needs to dominate without having to play hero every snap.

Waiting too long could mean losing Smith to another team desperate for a pass rusher once injuries start piling up around the league.

🚨 The Bottom Line: Don’t Overthink It

The Lions’ solution to their biggest weakness isn’t hiding overseas or buried in a draft class. He’s sitting right there, eager to come back, with a proven record of producing in Detroit.

Brad Holmes, the ball’s in your court: don’t let Detroit’s secret solution slip away.