Former Lions defensive end Za’Darius Smith is no longer an option for a return to Detroit. Smith agreed to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday.
Smith signed a one-year deal with the Eagles a day after Philadelphia beat Dallas in the NFL season opener, 24-21. Initial reports of the deal have the value at $9 million for the season. That figure would certainly explain why the Lions have not been nearly as interested in a second season with Smith as many fans anticipated.
The Lions traded for Smith midway through the injury-plagued 2024 season, sending two Day 3 picks to Cleveland for the 32-year-old veteran. Smith chipped in four sacks and three TFLs in eight games in Detroit. That productivity in dire circumstances created considerable consternation amongst the fan base for a reunion. Despite that, the Lions released Smith in March before he was due a $2 million roster bonus ahead of a total compensation that would have paid him over $500,000 per game in bonuses that pushed the potential total to nearly $11 million in 2025.
Starter Marcus Davenport is healthy and costs less than one-third ($2.5 million) of what Smith ultimately signed for in Philadelphia. Al-Quadin Muhammad, who also contributed for Detroit as an injury-forced option, is also back for a second season with the Lions, and Josh Paschal is due to return from the NFI list sometime after the first four weeks.
This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Ex-Lions DE Za’Darius Smith signs with a major NFC rival
