By Mummy Grace 
ESPN recently released its list of final recommended moves for every NFL team before training camp, and for the Detroit Lions, their suggestion was simple: bring back edge rusher Za’Darius Smith. It might sound obvious, but doing so could be the key to turning the Lions defense into the NFL’s best—possibly even surpassing last season’s Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles unit.
Last year, the Eagles won the championship on the strength of a dominant defense that shut down Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. But this offseason, Philadelphia lost several of those key defenders to free agency. Linebacker Oren Burks is now with the Bengals, standout pass rusher Josh Sweat signed with the Cardinals, defensive end Milton Williams went to the Patriots, and former Lions and Eagles cornerback Darius Slay joined the Steelers. With those departures, Philadelphia’s defense has taken a big hit.
Meanwhile, Detroit’s defense showed flashes of dominance last year but was pieced together with backups and late-season additions after injuries piled up. One of the biggest boosts came from Smith, who arrived before the trade deadline and immediately made an impact with 12 tackles and four sacks in just eight games. His leadership and on-field production helped the Lions finish strong.
Unfortunately, the Lions released Smith because of his costly contract from Cleveland, which would’ve stuck them with over $11 million in obligations, including nearly $6 million this season alone. But Smith has made it clear he wants to come back. Earlier this month, he told USA Today he loves Detroit’s coaching staff and front office, and feels like a true leader when he’s here. “Hopefully I can get back to where I want to be in Detroit,” Smith said.
Adding Smith back to a healthy Lions defense would be a game-changer. Pairing him with Aidan Hutchinson, who’s expected to be a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, would give Detroit two elite edge rushers capable of terrorizing opposing quarterbacks all season long. That kind of pass rush could rival—or even exceed—the Eagles’ dominant 2024 defense.
General manager Brad Holmes knows what’s at stake: a shot at a Super Bowl. Bringing Smith back could be the final piece to make the Lions’ defense not just good, but truly great.