Back-to-back heartbreaking playoff exits aren’t what the Detroit Lions have had in mind each of the last two seasons. But thanks to the San Francisco 49ers and the Washington Commanders, Dan Campbell & Co. don’t have much to show for their excellent regular-season performances.
This year, though, they’re walking into the season with a ton of question marks. With the roster and the coaching staff going through major upheaval, one analyst believes the Lions could look at a familiar face to stabilize their defense.
Detroit Lions Welcoming Back One-Year Rental?
While they started the year extremely well, a plethora of injuries completely demolished their top-five defense, per PFSN’s Defense+ metric, by the time the Divisional Round came around. But it’s going to be an even bigger challenge to maintain that level this season.
The loss of Will Harris and Carlton Davis III in the secondary is a blow to the roster, but without defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Detroit will need to instill a new identity from the ground up.
During the offseason, they added D.J. Reed at corner, but their defensive needs remain. In particular, the edge rusher spot is a gaping hole for Detroit, which they did not address during free agency or the draft, aside from selecting Ahmed Hassanein in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
As a result, Brandon Austin of PFSN believes they should look into bringing back Za’Darius Smith. After spending half of last season in Detroit, Smith was a big reason for the Lions sustaining their defensive level for much of the year, especially after losing Aidan Hutchinson.
He finished the year with four sacks, 36 pressures, and a 17.8% pressure rate, second-best on the team. While a high price tag caused the two to part ways, a reunion might be on the horizon with no official replacement in sight.
Ultimately, though, it is an insurance policy. “Smith’s ability to slide inside on passing downs only boosts the Lions’ overall pass rush flexibility. Considering Hutchinson is coming off a season-ending injury, retaining a proven and productive player like Smith would be wise.”
The #Lions have traded for DE Za’Darius Smith#OnePride pic.twitter.com/KIy5obpkXe
— ʟɪᴏɴ ᴋɪɴɢ (@LionsRoyalty) November 5, 2024
For a team that still has championship aspirations after ending the season as the No. 1 seed in the NFC, adding a proven veteran like Smith might be a stabilizing choice. A fourth-round pick in 2015, Smith is in the latter stages of his career.
With three Pro Bowl selections all behind him, he isn’t producing at an All-Pro level again. However, the consistency and leadership he can bring might be a valuable asset for the team on the field.
After the shocking retirement of the beloved Frank Ragnow, Detroit could use some positivity and good news on their side. Bringing back Smith, even as a rental, might be the safest way to ensure that the defense remains serviceable, at the very least.