The Detroit Lions will be looking to add another key piece to their roster during next week’s NFL Draft. But when the league is left cleaning up the streets of Green Bay next weekend, the Lions will be busy looking to put the finishing touches on their training camp roster.
Most of the heavy lifting has already been done as Detroit added D.J. Reed and re-signed linebacker Derrick Barnes during free agency. More work needs to be done when it comes to contract extensions for Aidan Hutchinson and Kerby Joseph. But Brad Holmes may have just one more call to make and it involves a potential reunion for a player dying to come back to Detroit.
Za’Darius Smith’s Return To Detroit Should Happen After NFL Draft
Za’Darius Smith’s time with Detroit was short when he was released earlier this spring. But neither the 32-year-old or the Lions have closed the door on a return as we get closer to the start of the 2025 season.
Smith was acquired in a trade deadline deal with the Cleveland Browns last November and played well trying to replace the injured Hutchinson. While he didn’t match Hutchinson’s elite production before breaking his leg in October, Smith was serviceable, making 12 total tackles, recording four sacks and 30 quarterback pressures on 241 pass-rushing snaps according to Pro Football Focus.
Although he had a manageable cap number of $5.7 million last season, Detroit balked at a $2 million roster bonus and released him. It’s been a recurring theme during Smith’s career as similar financial issues caused his splits with the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings and sparked a public desire to be traded to the Lions at last year’s trade deadline.
But this feels different. Smith had a custom-made NFC North division championship ring shortly after the Lions were upset by the Washington Commanders in the divisional round of the playoffs. He also recently appeared at a Detroit Pistons game, causing some to believe a reunion was just around the corner.
Holmes told reporters this week that there have been no new conversations with Smith regarding a reunion. But that could change if the Lions can’t find a replacement in this year’s draft. With a pass-rushing group that includes the oft-injured Marcus Davenport, Josh Paschal and Trevor Nowaske, the Lions should probably add someone to fill out the depth. And Smith could be showing up to Allen Park like the cue card scene in Love Actually, begging Holmes to bring him back.
There’s also the chance that Smith could find the same disdain he found with the Packers and Vikings and sign with the Chicago Bears to complete the Robert Tonyan infinity gauntlet. But with the Lions’ draft plans unknown, Smith could wind back in Detroit after the NFL Draft.