![\"Kerby](\"https:\/\/www.freep.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/01\/13\/PDTF\/77677859007-12302024-lions-49-ers-2-h-7.jpg?crop=2399,1351,x0,y124&width=660&height=371&format=pjpg&auto=webp\")
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At this point in the 2025\u00a0NFL\u00a0offseason, it is no secret what the biggest need is for the\u00a0Detroit Lions.<\/p>\n
They entered the offseason needing somebody they could start at their second defensive end spot to upgrade their pass rush.<\/p>\n
Months later, they haven’t done anything about it through either free agency or the draft.<\/p>\n
Luckily, there is still an option out there who seems like a good mach for the Lions.<\/p>\n
![\"Detroit](\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/.image\/t_share\/MjE1MDM5MzUyMzIzOTc0MTY3\/usatsi_25248455-1.jpg\")
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ESPN’s Matt Bowen\u00a0named the Lions as the best fit for edge rusher Za’Darius Smith, who spent the second half of last season in Detroit.<\/p>\n
I’m sure you’re all sick of me talking about Smith by now.<\/p>\n
I’ve been harping on the idea that the Lions need to bring him back for a while now.<\/p>\n
It also seems that this isn’t all that rare of an opinion.<\/p>\n
The big roadblock so far for the team has been money.<\/p>\n
GM Brad Holmes has previously said that the team can’t afford Smith.<\/p>\n
Smith also made a\u00a0joke\u00a0about Kash Doll needing to pay half of his salary for him to return.<\/p>\n
At some point, the money should stop being an issue for both sides.<\/p>\n
The Lions still have $42.2 million in cap space according to\u00a0Over the Cap\u00a0and nothing they need to spend it on aside from an edge rusher.<\/p>\n
They’re likely looking to use as much of that as they can to roll over to next season and help pay for the expensive contracts that are piling up on their roster, but winning right now should be more important.<\/p>\n
They should also still have plenty left to roll over even if they spent on Smith.<\/p>\n
Smith has been a free agent for almost two months and there have yet to be any firm links to another team.<\/p>\n
At some point, his asking price has to come down.<\/p>\n
This situation seems so simple.<\/p>\n
The Lions need somebody better to start in their second edge spot.<\/p>\n
Smith would be a big upgrade over Marcus Davenport and needs a team.<\/p>\n
The Lions should just make it happen so they can move on from this edge situation and head into the season knowing they’ve done everything they could to build a winning roster for the 2025 season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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