The Detroit Lions were just a few injuries away from potentially reaching their first Super Bowl last season. The NFC leader, who finished the regular season with 15 wins and had one of the best offenses in the NFL, dealt with numerous defensive losses that undermined the team’s competitiveness in the playoffs, leading to their elimination against the Washington Commanders.
Roster depth proved crucial throughout the season, and it’s expected that the team has learned from last year and will do everything possible to strengthen the roster to offset any losses this season. A veteran free agent who played for the franchise last season is listed as one of the best fits for both sides and could be a cheap option for Detroit.
Could a Za’Darius Smith Reunion With the Lions Still Happen?
The Lions’ defense in 2025 will not be the same as last season because defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn left to become the head coach of the New York Jets. Still, we could see improved numbers simply with the return of players like Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeill, who were injured last season and whose absences were felt.
After Hutchinson’s injury, the solution was to bring in edge rusher Za’Darius Smith, a three-time Pro Bowl selection who began 2024 with the Cleveland Browns. He was productive in the eight games he played during the regular season for the Lions, recording four sacks and 12 total tackles, and a reunion with the franchise would make sense for him and Detroit.
Za’Darius Smith was VERY excited to get this sack 😤#GBvsDET on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/qKGl3fQ1Bi— NFL (@NFL) December 6, 2024
“Sometimes it’s just best to stay where you are. The Lions clearly got production out of Smith, whom they acquired in a midseason trade. He was just a salary-cap casualty this offseason. Despite that, Smith told USA Today’s Tyler Dragon that he’s still interested in returning to Detroit. The Lions could use another edge-rusher opposite Aidan Hutchinson, too,” Matt Holder wrote in a Bleacher Report article.
The Lions defense enters 2025 as the fifth-best in the NFL according to the PFSN Defense+ metric, relying mainly on the return of Hutchinson and McNeill and on the arrival of D.J. Reed in the secondary to replicate last season’s success. Adding Smith would serve primarily to bolster roster depth while still giving the rotation a solid option.
Smith is heading into his eleventh NFL season and has played for five teams, totaling 69 sacks, three Pro Bowl appearances, and one second-team All-Pro nod in 2020. He will turn 33 at the end of the first week of the season, and at this point, he should be an affordable option, making a reunion the best outcome for both sides.
