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The Detroit Lions still have a pressing need at edge rusher. Though Aidan Hutchinson is cleared to return from a leg injury that cut his 2024 season short, the star pass rusher needs some help along the defensive line.
Though general manager Brad Holmes could pull off a blockbuster trade for Cincinnati Bengals superstar edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, Detroit will likely have to search the free agency market to find an impact pass rusher.
There are still a few capable players left on the market, but SportsGrid's Grant White predicts the Lions will pursue a reunion with Za'Darius Smith.
Smith was released by the Lions in March, but bringing him back makes a ton of sense. The veteran was traded to Detroit from the Cleveland Browns during the 2024 trade deadline and gave the pass rush a nice boost after Hutchinson's injury. Smith tallied nine sacks and 63 quarterback pressures last year, so he's still a productive player into his 30s.
Detroit won't be able to compete for a Super Bowl in 2025 with their current edge rusher room. Re-signing Smith is not just a logical move but one that has to happen. The 32-year-old would immediately reprise his role as a starter on the defense and provide adequate pass-rushing production as the No.2 edge rusher opposite Hutchinson.
The Lions have $40 million in cap space, per Over the Cap. Smith won't be expensive to sign, but based on his play in 2024, he also won't be cheap. A one or two-year deal worth around $8 million per season is a realistic contract projection for the three-time Pro Bowl defender.
A reunion with Smith must happen before the season. The Kentucky product's veteran presence and leadership would be incredibly valuable for Dan Campbell's squad, and Smith is still capable of being a high-level complementary pass rusher at this stage of his career.
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A football fan who started his own website to talk about the Tennessee Titans, Dharya Sharma is an up-and-coming sports writer from Nebraska contributing to NFL content for TSN. Along with his duties on Sporting News, Dharya is the social media administrator for Locker Daily Fantasy Sports.
