The Detroit Lions made some tough offseason decisions, but one move is drawing criticism—the release of veteran pass rusher Za’Darius Smith. While the decision freed up $5.7 million in cap space, some analysts believe Detroit should have prioritized keeping a proven edge presence rather than relying on younger players and the draft to fill the void.
Brad Berreman of SideLion Report called the move “foolish,” questioning whether the Lions have a real plan to replace Smith’s production. Detroit did re-sign Marcus Davenport, but that move alone isn’t enough to solidify their pass rush. Meanwhile, Smith remains unsigned, meaning a potential reunion isn’t completely off the table. If he doesn’t find the market he expected, the Lions could bring him back on a more team-friendly deal.
For now, Detroit fans are left wondering if the front office has another move up its sleeve—or if the team will lean heavily on its young pass rushers to step up in 2025.
