Analyzing what the money and roster fit could look like if Detroit Lions run it back with Za'Darius Smith
Allen Park — OK, let’s revisit the Za’Darius Smith conversation.
The Detroit Lions opted to go in a different, more cost-effective direction this offseason, cutting Smith instead of exercising a $7 million option bonus. Had the Lions retained him under his previous contract, he would have counted nearly $11 million against the cap across the next two seasons.
The Lions put those resources toward retaining two other veteran edge defenders, Marcus Davenport and Al-Quadin Muhammad.
Davenport, coming off another season-ending injury, returns at a significantly reduced price tag. However, it's worth noting that playing time and performance incentives could potentially push his earnings north of $5 million. Muhammad, meanwhile, got a small bump from the veteran minimum he played at last year, netting a $167,500 signing bonus to go with $917,500 in guarantees.
Still, even after making those moves, general manager Brad Holmes didn’t rule out an eventual reunion with Smith, noting at the league meetings in April that he was staying in contact with the player’s representation as the offseason progressed.
However, those chances of reconnection seemingly took a hit when the Lions selected high-motor Boise State defender Ahmed Hassanein in the sixth round of the draft a few weeks later. Combined with Aidan Hutchinson and Josh Paschal, plus a few young, unproven pieces presumably battling for practice squad spots, Smith felt further than ever off Detroit's radar.
Well, not to Smith. At the BET Awards this week, Smith told USA Today that he still has a strong desire to return to the Lions.
“We both know where I want to be,” Smith said. “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.”
Smith, 32, went on to say that winning a championship is his primary motivation at this stage in his career. He also sold himself as a vet capable of helping Hutchinson further elevate his game.
“He’s still a young guy,” Smith told USA Today. “I can help him with a lot of things. He’s already great, but as a player, there are some tools that I know that I can help him with. And there are some things as a young guy that he can help me with.”
Remember, Smith was brought on board at the trade deadline last season to help backfill Hutchinson’s absence. And Smith did an admirable job. It was never going to be a one-on-one replacement. Still, you feel good about getting 36 pressures and 4.0 sacks in eight games. It was enough to wonder how the two might look operating in tandem before the Lions pulled the plug on the idea.
Obviously, nothing is given, but Smith’s comments rekindle the dream. So, what does it look like? What would it cost? And how would the re-addition impact the current roster?