Both are saying the right things. Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes and veteran edge rusher Za’Darius Smith have each stressed this offseason they are interested in a reunion.
But one hasn’t happened yet. Despite the Lions currently having an open roster spot, a reunion isn’t on the immediate horizon either.
Holmes addressed where the team and Smith stand entering the 2025 NFL season.
“Anything’s a possibility. At any point, I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Holmes told reporters Thursday. “But the one open roster spot is not for a specific player. It’s for the player that makes the most sense for us, whoever that might be.”
As a follow-up, the Lions general manager received a question about whether the team had spoke to Smith or his agent.
“Not recently, no,” responded Holmes.
The Lions acquired Smith at the 2024 NFL trade deadline. Detroit also received a 2026 seventh-round pick in the trade from the Cleveland Browns for a 2025 fifth-rounder and 2026 sixth-round choice.
In eight games for the Lions, Smith posted 12 combined tackles, including three tackles for loss. He also had four sacks, 10 quarterback hits and one pass defense.
Za’Darius Smith Previously Expressed Desire to be Back With Lions
In one interview, Smith didn’t hide the fact he wants to be back in Detroit this season. While speaking to USA Today’s Tyler Dragon in June, the veteran edge rusher addressed where he wanted to play this fall.
“We both know where I want to be,” Smith told Dragon. “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.”
While Holmes hasn’t been as direct, he’s expressed interest in a reunion. After the Lions played their first preseason game, Holmes addressed the possibility of bringing back Smith.
“Za’Darius has expectations, the team has expectations, so sometimes it takes a while for those things to get on the same page,” Holmes said, via Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper. “Especially a guy that’s been in the league as long as he has, I’m not saying that he doesn’t want to be in training camp, but if he misses some time, there’s obviously still interest there and we’ve been keeping in touch.”
“Keeping in touch” is a loose term that means something different to each individual. But it’s natural to question whether the Lions and Smith have remained “in touch” over the past few weeks if the team and edge rusher haven’t spoken “recently.”
Lions Edge Rushing Depth Entering 2025 NFL Season
Smith has remained a conversation point with the Lions because the team’s edge rushing depth won’t be particularly deep to begin the regular season.
Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport will start along the edges for Detroit. After missing most of last season, the hope is Hutchinson will return to his prior trajectory. In 2023, Hutchinson made his first Pro Bowl with 11.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss and 33 quarterback hits.
Davenport is a reliable veteran to supply a pass rush opposite Hutchinson.
But there’s question marks behind those two starters. On the team’s initial 53-man roster, Al-Quadin Muhammad was the only other “edge rusher” for Detroit. The team then added Tyrus Wheat off waivers for more depth.
On the practice squad, the Lions signed former Army edge rusher Andre Carter II.
Defensive ends Josh Paschal and Ahmed Hassanein are dealing with injuries. Hassanein technically isn’t on the Detroit roster, as the team waived him with an injury settlement.
But the Lions have expressed confidence both could contribute to the team’s defense in 2025.
How quickly those edge rushers return could impact whether the Lions circle back on a Smith reunion.
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