The Detroit Lions’ pass rush was frequently a source of inconsistent play in 2023, despite the team making some notable defensive gains.
According to USA Today’s Jeff Risdon, the Lions are expected to make changes to their edge-rushing group this summer. A three-time Pro Bowler would make sense as a backup for star Aidan Hutchinson. Za’Darius Smith, a former edge rusher for the Cleveland Browns, might be a “under-the-radar” addition to the Lions this summer to help replace some of the veteran leadership that the team will be losing, according to Risdon.
Lions Selected to Include “Productive” Veteran Risdon pointed out that with several veterans projected to leave in free agency, the Lions’ pass-rushing group would probably see some major changes this offseason.
“The Lions may be shopping for a more productive veteran seeking a final Super Bowl opportunity, since they are revamping the EDGE position with Julian Okwara already in Philadelphia and Charles Harris and his brother Romeo both free agents. Smith is that, Risdon wrote.
Smith has 15.5 sacks over the last two seasons, but Risdon pointed out that he doesn’t seem to be receiving much attention until free agency opens in March. This could be partially attributed to Smith’s decline in 2023, when he played with the more productive Myles Garrett and only had 5.5 sacks and 27 total tackles.
However, Smith might still be a valuable acquisition to a team that had trouble locating a reliable pass rusher to replace Hutchinson. Hutchinson, a sophomore, accounted for nearly thirty percent of the team’s sack total with 11.5 sacks. No other player finished the year with more than five sacks.
Risdon noted that Smith could provide the consistency that Hutchinson and the rest of the unit lacked.
“Smith, who is 33 years old, is not the same Pro Bowl player that Lions fans may remember from the Packers a few years ago,” he wrote. “Nevertheless, he remains a proficient outside-in pass rusher with the ability to finish in the backfield and plays with disciplined position.”
Smith signed a one-year, $10.5-million contract with the Browns last year, and is two years removed from a three-year, $42-million deal with the Minnesota Vikings. However, Smith might be a more cost-effective addition for the Lions.
