With Hutchinson expected to return for the 2025 season, the Lions may also have intentions to bring back Smith. According to an insider, the Lions, who released Smith in a cap-cutting move at the start of the summer, may intend to re-sign him for the upcoming season.
Lions keeping a close eye on Za’Darius Smith
Mike Payton of AtoZ Sports revealed in a mailbag roundup that the Lions are still in contact with Smith and are waiting to see what he plans to do in free agency.
That’s where we are right now. “We’ll see what happens over the next two weeks.”
Smith’s free agency has been relatively quiet, with no rumors of interest from other teams or visits. The Lions’ training camp begins later this month, which could give the team time to re-sign him.
Lions Need More Help. Off The Edge
Hutchinson was on track for an All-Pro season when he was hurt in October, having racked up 7.5 sacks in just five games. His loss left a significant vacuum in the team’s edge rushing unit, but Smith helped fill the void by recording 4.0 sacks.
Many experts anticipate the Lions will re-sign Smith. ESPN’s Matt Bowen named the Lions a strong candidate to sign the veteran, saying that they still require a dependable opponent for Hutchinson.
“The Lions took only one edge rusher in the 2025 draft (Boise State’s Ahmed Hassanein), leaving a need for a veteran opposite Aidan Hutchinson,” Bowen pointed out. “So even though Detroit released Smith in March, bringing him back on another deal makes a lot of sense.”
The Lions are hoping to rebound from last year’s devastating playoff departure, when they were eliminated in their opening game of the divisional round. The Lions struggled against the Washington Commanders and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who scored 45 points without recording a sack.
Developing a solid pass rush and finding a capable partner for Hutchinson could be critical to the team’s pursuit for a third consecutive NFC North title, especially after defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn left to become head coach of the New York Jets.
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