The Detroit Lions are facing a significant decision regarding veteran pass rusher Za’Darius Smith, who was acquired midseason from the Cleveland Browns. While Smith’s addition provided some much-needed depth to the Lions’ defensive line following Aidan Hutchinson’s injury, his efforts weren’t enough to push Detroit past the Washington Commanders in the playoffs.
As the 2025 offseason begins, it seems likely that Smith will be cut to help the Lions manage their salary cap. Smith’s contract is proving to be a key factor in the Lions’ decision to part ways with him. His deal, with a cap hit of $5,727,500 million for 2025, is complicated by provisions from the Browns’ original contract.
If the Lions cut Smith before March 15, they can save $5,727,500 million in cap space with no dead cap hit. However, if Smith remains on the roster past this date, his $2 million signing bonus from the Browns would come into play, creating dead cap for the Lions. Additionally, Smith has four years of prorated option bonuses (three of which are void years), totaling $1,747,500 million per year.
If the Lions keep him through the start of the regular season, they would incur the full $6,990,000 million option bonus, further complicating the decision. Given the lack of incentive to keep Smith under his current contract, the Lions are expected to release him.
The only potential way Smith remains in Detroit is through a contract restructure or a cut and re-signing at a lower cost. With several important roster decisions to make, the Lions are unlikely to keep Smith on his current deal.
It seems clear that, unless a significant restructure occurs, Smith’s tenure in Detroit will be short-lived. However, Smith has already expressed his desire to remain with the Lions, stating that he hopes to be a Lion moving forward. This could potentially lead to a restructured contract that benefits both parties.
The Lions’ decision to cut Smith will likely have a ripple effect on their offseason plans. With the savings from Smith’s contract, the Lions may look to address other areas of need, such as the defensive backfield or the offensive line.
In conclusion, the Detroit Lions are likely to cut Za’Darius Smith due to the complicated contract situation. While Smith’s addition provided some much-needed depth to the Lions’ defensive line, his contract provisions make it difficult for the team to keep him. Unless a significant restructure occurs, Smith’s tenure in Detroit will likely come to an end.
