Pros and Cons of Lions Re-Signing Za’Darius Smith

Asthenewleagueyearapproachestheendofitsfirstofficialweek,formerDetroitLionsdefensiveendZa’DariusSmithremainsafreeagent. TheLionsreleasedSmithpriortothestartoffreeagency,asdoingsoallowedthemtoavoidpayingthe$2millionrosterbonushewasowed.Smithwould’vecostaround$11millionagainstthecaphadheremainedwiththeteamunderhiscurrentcontract. However,theteamcouldlooktoreunitewiththedefenderonanewcontractiftheysodesire.Tothispoint,Detroit’slonemovetoaddressitspass-rushneedwasre-signingMarcusDavenporttoaone-yearcontract. Becausetheteamstillhasthatneed,coulditworkoutanewdealforSmithtoreturntoMotown? SmithwasthesolutiontheLionsaddedlastseasonwhenHutchinsonwentdown,andheprovedtobeserviceabledownthestretch.Afterbeingacquiredatthetradedeadline,SmithnotchedfoursacksineightregularseasongamesfortheLionstoendtheyear. Overall,the2024campaignwasaproductiveonefortheveteran.BetweenhistimeinClevelandandDetroit,hetotaled35tackles,ninetacklesforl