DE Za'Darius Smith
The Lions released Za'Darius Smith earlier this offseason, clearing his entire $5.7 million cap hit from their books. This was a surprising development considering the fact that the Lions gave up a fifth and a sixth-round pick for him at the trade deadline.
It's not like Smith performed poorly, either. The 32-year-old pass rusher had four sacks, 10 QB hits, and three tackles for loss in eight games for the Lions, receiving a 74.7 defensive grade on Pro Football Focus. He may have struggled in the postseason, but who didn't on the Lions defense?
Despite being a three-time Pro Bowler and a productive defensive end throughout his career, Smith has found it hard to stick with a team. Since 2021, he has played for four different teams, including the Packers, Vikings, and the Lions. If he were to sign elsewhere, it would be his sixth team in his 11th season in the NFL.
LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin
The Detroit Lions decided to save $2 million in cap space by releasing Jalen Reeves-Maybin before the start of free agency. This came only a year after the Lions signed him to one of the richest special-teams contracts in team history, a two-year, $7.5 million deal.
Perhaps more surprising than Detroit's decision to cut him is the fact that he still hasn't signed with a team. Throughout his eight-year career, Reeves-Maybin has been an excellent special teams player, making the Pro Bowl in 2023. Last season, he had an expanded role on the defensive side of the ball amid all the injuries, playing 159 defensive snaps.
At the same time, he also missed seven games due to injuries. Yet, he has long been a fan favorite in Detroit. Perhaps the Lions are considering bringing him back on a more team-friendly deal, but it's hard to imagine Reeves-Maybin staying on the market for much longer.