Lions Cut Za’Darius Smith After Short Stint—Packers Fans Saw It Coming
When the Detroit Lions traded for Za’Darius Smith before last season’s deadline, he made it clear—he wanted revenge on the Packers and Vikings. Fast forward just four months, and the Lions have cut ties with the veteran pass rusher.
What Went Wrong?
Smith had flashes of impact, tallying four sacks and 10 QB hits in eight games, including a takedown of Jordan Love. But when it mattered most? He disappeared.
In the Lions’ playoff loss, Smith posted zero sacks and earned a brutal 27.9 PFF run defense grade. Combine that with his 13 missed tackles (one of the worst marks for edge defenders), and Detroit made the same realization the Packers and Vikings did—he’s not worth his contract.
What’s Next?
Detroit clears $5.7 million in cap space but now has a pass-rush hole to fill. Meanwhile, Smith is back on the market. Could he complete the NFC North cycle by joining the Bears? And if he does, will he set his sights on revenge against the Lions next?
Detroit Finally Accepts the Za’Darius Smith Reality Packers Fans Knew
