The Detroit Lions will have to forge ahead for their 2025-26 season without having defensive end Za’Darius Smith in the fold. It’s the moment a good number of Lions followers have been dreading. With Detroit not showing interest in Smith, it was only a matter of time before he would find a team elsewhere, and now, he’s joining a championship-winning roster.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz broke the news on X on Friday, September 5, just days before the Lions’ opening game against the Packers. “The #Eagles are signing 3x Pro Bowl OLB Za’Darius Smith to a 1-year deal with upside to $9M, per multiple sources,” he said. “Philly adds to its pass-rush with Smith, who recorded 9 sacks with the #Lions and #Browns last season.”
This one hurts, although coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes haven’t seemed interested, at all, in bringing Smith back. So, with that lack of interest, it’s understandable that he moved on, even if he really wanted to be back in Detroit. He’s even dating Detroit rapper Kash Doll, so it’s too bad this couldn’t work out.
Reaction to Former Detroit Lions Player Za’Darius Smith Going to the Philadelphia Eagles
So, Smith is going to the Eagles, and now, the Lions are really going to be in a pickle if they need an experienced defensive end. But, Holmes and Campbell know what they’re doing, so we have to trust their intuition. Perhaps Kash Doll will be rocking an Eagles jersey now instead of the Lions one she was wearing earlier this week.
Reaction to the signing on X is filled with “I told you sos.” One commenter said, “Of course they did lol.” Another made a little joke about his relationship with Kash Doll, stating, “Good finally he can stop following around Kash Doll like he her guardian and focus on football.”
Another commented, “Really great pick up there.” One more wants to know what Holmes and Campbell have in response, stating, “Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell what are you cooking.”
Za’Darius Smith Wanted to Be in Detroit
It’s no secret that Smith wanted to be in Detroit and play for the Lions this season. Earlier this year, he said just that when asked about where he wanted to land.
“We both know where I want to be,” Smith told Tyler Dragon of USA Today Sports in June when asked about his stance with the Detroit Lions and where he wanted to play football in the coming season. “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.”
Hopefully the Detroit Lions made the right move by not signing Smith, but he sure seemed like the perfect fit, and the Eagles saw his potential. But, that’s in the past, and it’s time for the Lions to move forward, starting with their first game of the season.
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