This offseason, one of the more controversial moves the Detroit Lions made was cutting veteran defensive end Za’Darius Smith and failing to re-sign him despite reported mutual interest. It turns out the Lions may have made the right move. On Monday, Smith announced his retirement via his Instagram after playing five games with the Philadelphia Eagles this season.
“I knew this day would come — but now that it’s here, I’m feeling so many emotions I never expected,” Smith captioned the post. He later added, “And to the fans — the biggest thank you of all. To every fan from each organization I represented: thank you, thank you, thank you for everything! From wearing my jerseys, collecting my cards, sending letters, sharing your opinions (good and tough ones alike), and most importantly — showing love. I felt it all. As I step into the newest season of my life, please know this game has meant the world to me. The lessons learned on and off the field will stay with me forever.”
Last year, the Lions traded for Smith at the deadline, sending a 2025 fifth and 2026 sixth-round pick for Smith and a 2026 seventh-round pick in return. Smith proceeded to give Detroit eight quality games following the loss of Aidan Hutchinson to an injury. Smith notched 4.0 sacks and 36 pressures (per PFF) over that span, giving the Lions a fighting chance on defense despite all of the injuries they suffered.
The Lions opted to cut Smith in a move that saved them a total of $11 million split over two seasons. Instead of giving him a new contract, they opted to re-sign Marcus Davenport and Al-Quadin Muhammad. Davenport has one sack for the Lions this season, but was placed on injured reserve after two games—although he is expected to return shortly. Muhammad has 4.5 sacks through six games. Smith had 1.5 sacks and 10 pressures for the Eagles this year.
Smith calls it a career after just over 10 seasons in the NFL. He finishes with 343 tackles, 70.5 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, and three Pro Bowls.
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