“We’ve Been Keeping in Touch”: Detroit Lions Eye Reunion With Pass Rusher

   

The Detroit Lions acquired Za’Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns during the NFL Trade Deadline to provide a veteran presence to an already banged-up pass-rushing unit. Smith played their final eight games and recorded 12 tackles, three TFLs, 36 pressures, ten QB hits, and four sacks. He finished the year with 35 tackles, nine TFLs, 63 pressures, 17 QB hits, and nine sacks in 17 games.

The Detroit Lions moved on from their veteran Pro Bowler

Detroit Lions, Za'Darius Smith
Detroit Lions defensive end Za’Darius Smith (99) celebrates 31-9 win over Minnesota Vikings as he exits the field at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025.

Za’Darius Smith entered the final year of his contract. He was scheduled to earn a $1.5 million base salary, a $2 million roster bonus and a $6.99 million option bonus due on the third day of the new league year, a per-game roster bonus amounting to $510,000, and a $5,727,500 cap hit in 2025. Because his roster bonus was coming up, and they couldn’t reach a resolution, the Lions released Smith in early March, roughly a week before the due date. 

Also Read: Predicting Each NFC North Team’s Most Likely Cap Casualty for 2025

Detroit Lions, Brad Holmes
Detroit Lions Executive Vice President & General Manager Brad Holmes speaks to the press about their season, how it ended and what’s next at the Detroit Lions headquarters and training facility in Allen Park, Mich., Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025.

According to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic, during their annual NFL League Meetings, Brad Holmes told the media that the Lions would have loved to keep Za’Darius Smith, but his contract didn’t allow it to happen. Holmes went on to say that they have been in touch with Smith’s agents, and a reunion is possible. Here’s what he had to say about the subject matter.

“We would have loved to been able to keep him. We just weren’t able to,” Holmes said via Pouncy. “But we’ve been keeping in touch with his agent and he understands that process. We’ll just see how it goes.”

Here’s a look at the Detroit Lions’ EDGE depth

Aidan Hutchinson
Feb 6, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Aidan Hutchinson on the red carpet before Super Bowl LIX NFL Honors at Saenger Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
  • Aidan Hutchinson
  • Marcus Davenport
  • Al-Quadin Muhammad
  • Josh Paschal
  • Trevor Nowaske
  • Mitchell Agude
  • Isaac Ukwu
  • Nate Lynn