Detroit Lions Mailbag: Will the Lions bring back Za'Darius Smith?
The Detroit Lions aren't playing any games right now, but they're super busy with free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft. With everything going on, Lions fans have questions. Let's answer them. It's really simple. It's all about 2026. If the Lions had Smith on their roster on the third day of the new league […]
The Detroit Lions aren't playing any games right now, but they're super busy with free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft. With everything going on, Lions fans have questions. Let's answer them.
It's really simple. It's all about 2026. If the Lions had Smith on their roster on the third day of the new league year, which was last Friday, they would have had to pay him a little over $5 million even if he wasn't on the team. Add that to the 2025 cap hit and the Lions are paying him $11 million for more than likely one year. It makes sense as a cap casualty.
Does releasing Za’darius Smith alter how that midseason trade is perceived? I felt it was a great trade BECAUSE we would have him for this season as well. Also, do you think there’s still a shot he comes back?
— Logan Page (@loganpage.bsky.social) March 18, 2025 at 9:45 AM
No, at the end of the day, it was a good trade and the Lions were able to get some much-needed help for a low draft pick. It was the best possible deal that they could have made at the deadline. Financially they chose to take the out and it was the right way to go.
Ultimately I don't see him coming back to the Lions. Anything is possible, but bringing him back is going to mean that Smith is going to have to agree to a cheaper contract with a lot fewer guarantees and that is something that Smith has expressed frustrations about in the past. We'll see what happens, but Smith is probably likely to look for the best payday he can get and I don't know that the Lions are the team to give it to him.
Second guard for sure. The Lions defensive line is pretty good right now and with the right draft picks, they could be even better. You have to make sure you have a good guard to keep Jared Goff on his feet and open up run lanes so that you can be the team that you want to be, which is a run-first team.
The good thing is that there's a good group of versatile offensive linemen in this year's draft.
We don't get a ton of Netane Muti questions, I love it. The Lions seemed to like him and I think had he not gotten injured, he probably would have made the 53-man roster over Michael Niese.
The Lions re-signed him last month and he should be someone to watch in terms of guard depth since at this time, the Lions did not tender Kayode Awosika or sign Niese. So they must have high hopes for him.
Any extensions expected before the draft?
— Justin B (@justinbaumann.bsky.social) March 18, 2025 at 9:49 AM
I would expect it. Brad Holmes said the Lions were in the planning stages of an extension for Aidan Hutchinson and the expectation is that they are doing the same for Kerby Joseph. We've seen them typically get these done ahead of the draft, so keep an eye on both guys.
Keep an eye on Jameson Willaims too. I don't think he gets the extension this year, but the deadline to opt for the fifth-year option is May 1st. Right after the draft.
It would be the most shocking event to ever take place if the Lions didn't draft an edge rusher in the 2025 NFL Draft. I do believe they have faith in who they have on the roster and that they have faith they can develop someone, but they'll definitely be looking to get their guy opposite Aidan Hutchinson in April.
I really like North Carolina's Willie Lampkin. He's an undersized guard who plays like a dawg. The fun part is that he can also play defensive line, tight end, or fullback. The Lions love a guy who can do multiple things. If they were going to draft a project, I like this one personally. See what you can get out of the guy late in the draft.
This was never really a great edge rusher class in free agency. That's why guys like Josh Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo got paid so much over their market because they were the best of an ok situation. There are some guys out there who they could pick up, but don't expect a game-changer.
The draft presents a better chance that you will find a guy who will be a solid player opposite Aidan Hutchinson and that you can do that a lot cheaper.
