After a record-breaking 2024 season, the Detroit Lions enter the 2025 NFL campaign with high expectations – and some lingering questions.
The team went 15-2 and earned the NFC’s top playoff seed, but a slew of injuries, particularly on defense, derailed their Super Bowl hopes. (Still can’t believe they lost at home to Washington in the playoffs!)
Regardless, one area of concern remains edge rusher depth – and ESPN’s Matt Bowen believes he has a solution … and it involves a familiar name.
Writing on ESPN.com, Bowen matched remaining free agents with teams that could use their services. His suggestion for Detroit: bring back veteran pass rusher Za’Darius Smith.
“Smith was productive after getting traded from Cleveland to Detroit before the deadline last season,” Bowen wrote.
“In eight games with the Lions, he had four sacks and 20 pressures. He’s a speed-to-power rusher who can get interior one-on-ones as a standup nose tackle or 3-technique.
“That’d give Detroit’s new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard more matchup ability up front.”
The Lions acquired Smith midseason in 2024 following a serious leg injury to star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson (who’s thankfully back healthy).
Smith provided a spark, but the team released him earlier this offseason due to salary cap concerns. Despite that, Bowen sees a potential reunion as both logical and beneficial.
“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 added.
“So even though Detroit released Smith in March, bringing him back on another deal makes a lot of sense.”
Bowen isn’t alone in this thinking. Other analysts have floated the idea of Detroit circling back to Smith, especially with questions lingering about depth at the position.
Though the Lions are set to welcome Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport back from injury, the latter’s durability remains a concern among fans.
Hassanein, meanwhile, is considered a high-upside but raw prospect who may need time to develop.
Detroit passed on selecting an edge rusher with either of their top two picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, instead choosing Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams and Georgia guard Tate Ratledge – a decision that surprised many.
Whether the Lions will pursue additional help at edge rusher remains uncertain. But as Bowen points out, if they do, a familiar face in Smith may be the most natural fit.
Now, all eyes turn to GM Brad Holmes to see whether another reunion is in the cards.
What are your thoughts on the suggestion that Detroit should bring back Smith???
