The Detroit Lions still have a massive need at edge rusher after releasing Za'Darius Smith earlier this offseason.
The best course of action for Detroit would be to just bring Smith back. The problem, however, is that Lions general manager Brad Holmes said the team couldn't afford the $11 million or so Smith was set to make.
It remains to be seen if the Lions will be able to get something done with Smith, but Detroit figures to have the funds to make it work, and that's especially true after the retirement of center Frank Ragnow opened up more money. The Lions currently sport over $40 million in cap space.
Smith was in attendance at the 2025 BET Awards and was asked about the situation in Detroit. The veteran edge rusher made it quite clear the Lions are where he wants to be.
“We both know where I want to be,” Smith said to USA TODAY's Tyler Dragon. “Hopefully I can get back to Detroit because the coaching staff and everybody in the front office are great. When I’m there I feel like a leader and like I can influence the young guys and do great things. Hopefully I can get back to where I want to be in Detroit.”
Not only would re-adding Smith give the Lions a nine-sack edge rusher who can fill the void, he would also be a great asset for Aidan Hutchinson, who Smith believes is capable of returning the favor.
“I’m still a veteran. He’s still a young guy. I can help him with a lot of things," he said of Hutchinson. "He’s already great but as a player there are some tools that I know that I can help him with,” Smith explained.
“And there are some things as a young guy that he can help me with.”
Since cutting Smith, the Lions haven't done much along the edge, which has led to their dire situation.
The re-signing of Marcus Davenport was an OK move, but it does nothing to give the Lions a sure starting solution, as Davenport is injury-prone. In the draft, the Lions didn't take an edge rusher until Round 6, which is hardly adequate.
During the draft, Holmes had a somewhat flippant attitude toward Detroit's biggest need. It's clear he isn't anywhere near as worried about the position like Lions fans rightly are.
"We'll keep looking," Holmes said. "I mean, we turn over every stone. There's other avenues in the player acquisition process, so it doesn't stop at the draft. So we'll see.
"But no, I mean it’s a fair statement, but I mean just 'cause you don't draft one doesn't mean nothing," he added. "We (added) one last year at the trade deadline. But that's not — it's more on the top of y'all's priority (list) than it is on the top of our priority (list)."
Edge rusher is one of the most important positions on the football field on either side of the ball, and the Lions are just not good enough in that group right now.
The Lions are still a Super Bowl contender, even with their lackluster situation, but there's no question their chances aren't as good.