Former Lion Could Be Heading Back to Detroit After the NFL Draft
The Detroit Lions are gearing up for next week’s NFL Draft, looking to add a few more pieces to the roster. They’ve already done some work in free agency, picking up D.J. Reed and bringing back linebacker Derrick Barnes. Now, they’ve got some contract talks ahead with guys like Aidan Hutchinson and Kerby Joseph but there might be one more move on Brad Holmes’ to-do list.
Could Za’Darius Smith Be Coming Back?
Za’Darius Smith didn’t stick around long in Detroit the team cut him loose earlier this spring. But neither side has ruled out a reunion as the 2025 season gets closer.
Smith was traded to the Lions from Cleveland last November when Hutchinson went down. While he wasn’t quite at Hutchinson’s level, he held his own logging 12 tackles, 4 sacks, and 30 quarterback pressures on 241 pass-rush snaps, per Pro Football Focus.
The Lions had him on a manageable $5.7 million cap hit last year, but they weren’t willing to pay a $2 million roster bonus, so they let him go. This has kind of been a pattern in Smith’s career financial hang-ups also ended his stints with the Packers and Vikings before he pushed for a trade to Detroit last fall.
That said, this time feels different. Smith even had a custom NFC North champs ring made after Detroit’s playoff loss to Washington and popped up courtside at a Pistons game recently fueling rumors he might be back soon.
Holmes mentioned this week there haven’t been any new talks with Smith, but that could quickly change if the Lions don’t land a pass rusher they like in the draft. With injury-prone options like Marcus Davenport, plus Josh Paschal and Trevor Nowaske, Detroit could really use more depth.
If things don’t work out in the draft, don’t be surprised if Smith shows up at the Lions’ facility like a scene out of Love Actually, ready to suit up again. Of course, there’s always a chance he heads somewhere else in the division maybe Chicago to complete his NFC North tour. But for now, a return to Detroit is definitely still in play.
Detroit Reunion on Deck? Ex-Lion Might Be Headed Back After Draft
