Earlier this week, Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell said, “We’re good” when asked why the team did not re-sign Za’Darius Smith. Several days later, Smith appears to be good as well.
According to NFL Network, the former Lions pass rusher is signing a one-year, $9 million deal with the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. The move comes less than 24 hours after the Eagles’ season-opening victory over the division-rival Dallas Cowboys.
The Eagles’ lack of pass rush was evident during their 24-20 win Thursday night, and now they’ve added a three-time Pro Bowler who turns 33 following Monday.
Following his release from the Lions in March -- a cost-cutting move that cleared $11 million in cap space over the next two years -- there was speculation about a potential reunion between Smith and Detroit.
During an appearance at the BET Awards this spring, Smith said he wanted to return to the franchise. At the start of training camp, Lions general manager Brad Holmes noted the team had been in communication with him. However, last Friday Holmes provided an update, saying those talks had since cooled off.
Not long after those comments, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that multiple contending teams had reached out about Smith. Still, the veteran defender was training and waiting for the right deal to come along.
During a Wednesday appearance on 97.1 The Ticket’s “Costa and Jansen,” Campbell explained the team’s approach to edge rusher depth and why they didn’t bring Smith back.
“We’re good right now, we are pretty good here,” Campbell said. “We got (Marcus) Davenport, we got good depth. I like what we got interior too. We got a lot of flexibility, and we’re sitting pretty good right now. So we’re ready to go.”
Ahead of last season’s trade deadline, the Lions acquired Smith and a 2026 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick.
Smith quickly made a splash in his Detroit debut, sacking Mac Jones during a 52-6 Week 11 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He finished the season recording 12 tackles, including three for loss, along with 10 quarterback hits, four sacks and one pass defended in eight games with Detroit.
Another significant reason for the Lions moving on from Smith is the faith they’re placing in starter Marcus Davenport.
Davenport has played only six games over the past two seasons -- including two with the Lions last year -- as injuries have derailed his career in recent years.
However, after a strong training camp and a vote of confidence from the coaching staff, the Lions have opted to move forward with the veteran defender, who turned 29 on Thursday.
Davenport will line up opposite Aidan Hutchinson as the Lions’ starters at EDGE, with Al-Quadin Muhammad and Tyrus Wheat.
In addition to stints with the Browns and Lions, Smith has suited up for the Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings. The Ravens selected Smith in the fourth-round of the 2015 NFL draft.
If Smith is looking to get any “revenge” against the Lions, he’ll have his chance when they come to Philadelphia for their Week 11 matchup.
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