The Detroit Lions have released a former All-Pro before the start of free agency to free up some cap space.
The Detroit Lions have made another notable move on the edge before the beginning of free agency.
Last night it was the surprising decision to bring Marcus Davenport back for another season on a $4.75 million contract.
That seemed like it could be the end of the Lions' moves centered around their edge rushers for a while as it ensured they would have a couple of veterans who could play alongside Aidan Hutchinson.
Former Detroit Lions edge rusher Za'Darius Smith celebrating a sack
Junfu Han-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Now they've made another decision that fans may not have expected and let one of those veterans go.
According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Lions have released Za'Darius Smith.
Smith spent the second half of the 2024 season with the Lions to try and bolster the team's pass rush while they dealt with the absence of Aidan Hutchinson.
In just eight games he finished second on the team in sacks with four. Over the course of the season, he was 10th among edge rushers with 63 total pressures according to Pro Football Focus.
Now they've opted to release him in a move that will save them $5.76 million in cap space and eliminates the void years in Smith's deal that they'd have had to deal with down the road.
It also leaves them with an issue to address this offseason. With Smith off the roster, the Lions are left with Davenport as their best option to start alongside Hutchinson.
That's certainly not what Lions fans were hoping for at the start of free agency as Davenport hasn't been a reliable option throughout his NFL career.
There had been some hope that maybe if the Lions released Smith they would be able to bring him back on a reworked contract, but that seems unlikely after he posted what appears to be a farewell on Instagram.
Hopefully the Lions have one more move up their sleeve because they now have the same options on the edge that they opened last season with.
