Za’Darius Smith Might Not Be Done with the Lions Just Yet
The Detroit Lions didn’t go wild in free agency this offseason. Instead, they focused on keeping their core guys together, betting that a healthier season could be all they need to make a serious playoff push. It’s a solid strategy, but they still have a few gaps to fill mainly on defense.
One of their biggest issues last season was depth in the pass rush. After Aidan Hutchinson went down, the defense struggled to pressure quarterbacks. So, the Lions made a midseason trade to bring in veteran edge rusher Za’Darius Smith, and he stepped up big time.
Smith played well in his short stint, logging four sacks, ten QB hits, and three tackles for loss in just eight games. He even earned a solid 71.2 grade from Pro Football Focus. But after the season, the Lions let him go in a money-saving move. Now, over a month into free agency, he’s still unsigned.
Smith, a three-time Pro Bowler, might be open to coming back. Detroit gives him a legit shot at a Super Bowl, and at 32, that kind of opportunity has to matter. Plus, the Lions probably won’t find anyone better to line up opposite Hutchinson at least not right away. They could draft a pass rusher, sure, but putting all their chips on a rookie in a win-now season? That’s risky.
The Lions still have around $40 million in cap space, so bringing back veterans like Smith, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Kyle Peko, or Ben Niemann is definitely possible. Whether GM Brad Holmes wants to pull the trigger is the real question.
