The Detroit Lions decided to cut veteran pass rusher Za’Darius Smith before free agency, mostly because of his contract. The way it was structured, he was due nearly $9 million in bonuses, and letting him go freed up $5.7 million in cap space with no dead money. So financially, it made sense.

But now, weeks into free agency, Smith is still available, and it’s becoming more obvious that the Lions might have made a mistake. They haven’t really made a big move to replace him, outside of re-signing Marcus Davenport, which doesn’t exactly scream “great solution.” It looks like they’re banking on the draft to fill the gap, but that’s a risky move.

If it came down to choosing between Smith and Davenport, there’s a strong case that Detroit picked the wrong guy. Smith played 33 games over the last two seasons, while Davenport has played just six. That’s a huge gap in availability.

ESPN’s Matt Bowen recently ranked Smith as the 12th-best remaining free agent, highlighting his ability to rush with power and versatility in different defensive schemes. In other words, exactly the kind of player a contender could use—like, say, the Lions.

There might have been more to Smith’s release than just money. Maybe he didn’t want to take a pay cut. Maybe he even asked to be released. But unless Detroit has a hidden plan up its sleeve, letting go of a proven pass rusher with no clear backup plan is looking worse by the day.

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Lions Get a Bargain Deal With Levi Onwuzurike

While the Lions’ handling of Za’Darius Smith is questionable, they did make one solid move in free agency—bringing back defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike on a one-year, $5.5 million deal.

ESPN analyst Ben Solak called it the best bargain of the first wave of free agency. Why? Because while other defensive tackles were cashing in—Javon Kinlaw got $45 million from Washington, and Tershawn Wharton signed for $54 million in Carolina—Onwuzurike actually had a higher pressure rate than both of them. That’s a steal.

His time in Detroit has been rocky, mostly due to injuries, but last season he finally started showing why the Lions drafted him. He moved all over the defensive line and made an impact despite Detroit dealing with injuries all around him. If he can stay healthy, he’ll be a key piece next to Alim McNeil in 2025.

The Lions are clearly being careful with their spending, likely saving up for extensions for their young stars. Keeping Onwuzurike on a cheap deal gives them flexibility—not just for their own contracts, but also to potentially take on a big salary in a mid-season trade if they need to make a push.

If Onwuzurike stays on the field and keeps improving, this could end up being one of Detroit’s smartest moves of the offseason.