When safety Thomas Harper became the 53rd man on the Detroit Lions roster, it brought an end to rumors of a long-awaited Za’Darius Smith reunion. It was a disappointing conclusion to a scenario that captivated the imagination of fans, eager to see Smith play alongside Aidan Hutchinson .
Putting An End To Rumors Of A Za’Darius Smith, Lions Reunion
Smith proved to be an ideal fit in Detroit. He quickly became a fan favorite with his infectious smile and enthusiasm. Inspiring teammates with his passion, Smith’s Pro Bowl presence provided a boost to Detroit’s injury-riddled defense last season. In seven starts for the Lions, he totaled 12 tackles, 4.0 sacks, and a pass defense.
A Seemingly Perfect Pairing, Smith and the Lions
Smith understood why the Lions cut him for financial reasons in the postseason. However, ever since his departure, fans have been clamoring for his return. The desire for Smith to remain in Detroit appeared to be mutual. For a time, it appeared a reunion was imminent.
Brad Holmes and Smith’s agent stayed in contact, and Smith made no secret of the fact that he wanted to play for Detroit .“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.”
At one point, Holmes alluded to the fact that contract terms had been discussed, and the ball was in Smith’s court. However, if the Lions extended an offer for his return, it was likely a one-year deal for substantially less money than he would have made under his previous Cleveland Browns contract.
Nonetheless, there were other factors enticing Smith to re-sign with Detroit. At the time, he was in a relationship with stunning actress and rapper Kash Doll, and his nephew Jackson Meeks had just entered Lions training camp as a rookie wide receiver.
Signs of a team family reunion added weight to the hope of Smith’s return. Keeping close tabs on Detroit, Smith gave a shout-out to his nephew on social media after he scored a touchdown in the Lions’ second preseason game. Meeks shared his childhood dreams of playing alongside his uncle. In a July interview with MLive’s Kory Woods, Meeks stated, “I’ve been begging him to come back.”
Subtle Signs The Situation Had Changed
But over the past few months, the situation began to subtly change. Smith’s romantic relationship with Kash Doll soured. The two parted ways.
Despite Meeks’ terrific preseason debut, the UDFA talent was waived during final roster cutdowns. Meeks was re-signed the following day to the Lions’ practice squad. However, by that point, Smith’s chances of playing with his nephew seem to be slipping away.
The Lions Salary Cap Restrictions
Smith has every right to want the best possible deal for himself. He’s one of the top veteran defensive ends in the league. Despite being 32 years old, Smith shows no signs of slowing down. Furthermore, he clearly has no plans to retire in the next couple of years. It’s understandable that he expects fair compensation for a player of his caliber and to be offered more than a one-year contract.
Unfortunately, Holmes has to prioritize the existing salary cap extensions while navigating the new contractual obligations awaiting him. Next year will be even more challenging with Holmes currently negotiating significant extensions for Hutchinson and Jameson Williams.
If the Lions’ 2026 salary cap liabilities were based on today’s cap limit, according to overthecap.com, the Lions would exceed their cap by almost $33,000,000. Fortunately, the NFL raises the cap every year.
However, next year, Brian Branch, Jack Campbell, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Sam LaPorta will all be seeking contract extensions. The painful truth is that there simply isn’t enough wiggle room to accommodate the kind of contract Smith is seeking.
What’s Next for Smith?
Now that the door to the Lions’ locker room appears to have closed, Smith is undoubtedly exploring his options with other NFL teams. While several NFL teams may be in the market for an elite EDGE veteran, those same teams may find themselves in a similar salary cap situation as Detroit. Smith may find another team that can offer the contract he desires.
However, there is something to be said about joining a team with genuine Super Bowl championship potential. Despite being a veteran of multiple NFL teams, Smith has never played in the Super Bowl. For every elite NFL athlete, that is the ultimate goal. Sometimes, it’s even worth taking a less favorable contract for the privilege of playing for the league’s highest honor. Someday, Smith may regret not pursuing the opportunity with Detroit.
What’s Next For The Lions?
It would be painful to see Smith wearing a rival jersey. However, despite being thin at the EDGE position, Holmes and Dan Campbell have confidence in the roster they’ve assembled. Currently, only Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport , and Al-Quadin Muhammed are listed as active players. Josh Pascal is scheduled to return from a non-football injury.
Promising young rookie Ahmed Hassanein was waived with an injury settlement. However, he has since cleared waivers. Once the designated injury time plus another three-week period ends, Hassanein can return. Holmes declared that they expect him back with the team this season. Finally, the Lions have both Isaac Ukwu and recently signed second-year player Andre Carter II on the practice squad for additional depth. Trust that Holmes has the EDGE position covered.
While it’s not out of the realm of possibility that a newly rostered Lions player could be waived after four weeks to make room for Smith, for right now at least, that doesn’t appear likely.
Main Photo: Junfu Han/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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