After the Detroit Lions lost edge rushers Marcus Davenport and Aidan Hutchinson to season-ending injuries, general manager Brad Holmes was tasked with scouring the trade market for a replacement.

Eventually, he landed on veteran edge rusher Za’Darius Smith through a deal with the Cleveland Browns right before the deadline. The Lions acquired Smith and a 2026 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2025 fifth-rounder and 2026 sixth-rounder.

“But pass rusher, and this was the first time we’ve had to trade for a pass rusher this year, and I will say that was the most difficult player acquisition journey that I’ve ever dealt with,” Holmes said of the Smith trade at his end-of-year presser.

Smith went on to tally four sacks after joining Detroit, which was the second-most on the team despite the fact that he only played half a season with the Lions. He did not, however, make any impact in the playoff loss to the Washington Commanders.

Looking ahead to 2025, Smith is under contract, but he’s also set to turn 33 years old and can be cut with no dead money if the Lions choose to go that route.

In a recent social media post, Smith made it very clear he wants to stay in Detroit.

“Motor City, 2024 didn’t go as planned at all; we fell short of the outcome we had planned for,” Smith wrote. “2025 gives us another opportunity to adjust and go for that championship! I enjoyed every moment with my boys, and even though some faces have changed for the new season, I hope to be a part of this great organization for the future!”

This shouldn’t be too difficult of a decision for the Lions. They absolutely should keep Smith, as cutting him loose would leave them with a void along the edge opposite Hutchinson.

Smith showed he had plenty left in the tank last season, as he finished with nine sacks in total when you include the five he had with the Browns. He was also a seamless fit in the Lions’ locker room and brought a ton of energy.

With the Lions gearing up for another Super Bowl quest in 2025, not only do they need to keep Smith, but they should look to add more depth and quite possibly a long-term running mate for Hutchinson. Smith will be a free agent in 2026.