Jan 14, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Footballs and a Detroit Lions helmet before a 2024 NFC wild card game between the Lions and Los Angeles Rams at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Lions acquired Za’Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns during the NFL Trade Deadline to provide a veteran presence to an already banged-up pass-rushing unit. Smith played their final eight games and recorded 12 tackles, three TFLs, 36 pressures, ten QB hits, and four sacks. He finished the year with 35 tackles, nine TFLs, 63 pressures, 17 QB hits, and nine sacks in 17 games.

The Detroit Lions moved on from their veteran Pro Bowler

Za’Darius Smith entered the final year of his contract. He was scheduled to earn a $1.5 million base salary, a $2 million roster bonus and a $6.99 million option bonus due on the third day of the new league year, a per-game roster bonus amounting to $510,000, and a $5,727,500 cap hit in 2025. Because his roster bonus was coming up, and they couldn’t reach a resolution, the Lions released Smith in early March, roughly a week before the due date.

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Detroit Lions eye reunion with pass rusher

According to Colton Pouncy of The Athletic, during their annual NFL League Meetings, Brad Holmes told the media that the Lions would have loved to keep Za’Darius Smith, but his contract didn’t allow it to happen. Holmes went on to say that they have been in touch with Smith’s agents, and a reunion is possible. Here’s what he had to say about the subject matter.

“We would have loved to been able to keep him. We just weren’t able to,” Holmes said via Pouncy. “But we’ve been keeping in touch with his agent and he understands that process. We’ll just see how it goes.”

Here’s a look at the Detroit Lions’ EDGE depth