The Lions are releasing Smith, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports. Smith was entering the second of a two-year, $23 million contract and would have been a $5.75 million cap hit for Detroit in 2025. The 33-year-old provided much-needed production for the Lions after being traded from the Browns last season, logging 4.0 sacks over the final eight games of the regular season. Smith totaled 9.0 sacks over 17 regular-season games in 2024, and he should get plenty of attention this offseason from teams in need of pass-rushing help. Meanwhile, the Lions will likely look to the Draft or free agency to find a new edge defender to play opposite Aidan Hutchinson, who is coming off a season-ending leg injury.
Za'Darius Smith
DL
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Previous game (vs. WAS 1/18)
SACK
SOLO
AST
INT
TFL
0
0
0
0
0
Latest Za'Darius Smith news
2024 Postseason Tackles
TOTAL
AST
SOLO
0
0
0
2024 Postseason Sacks
SCK
SCKYDS
TFL
0
0
0
2024 Postseason Interceptions
INT
PD
TD
0
1
0
2024 Postseason Fumbles
FF
FR
FTD
0
0
0
2024 Season Tackles
TOTAL
AST
SOLO
35
13
22
2024 Season Sacks
SCK
SCKYDS
TFL
9
67
0
2024 Season Interceptions
INT
PD
TD
0
1
0
2024 Season Fumbles
FF
FR
FTD
0
0
0
Za’Darius Smith Career Stats
-
Career Stats - TACKLES
TOTALASTSOLO333113220Career Stats - Sacks
SCKSCKYDSTFL69485.50Career Stats - INTERCEPTIONS
INTPDTD0160Career Stats - Fumbles
FFFRFTD1020Tackles
Sacks
Interceptions
Defense Fumbles
-
Career Stats - TACKLES
TOTALASTSOLO18612Career Stats - Sacks
SCKSCKYDSTFL4200Career Stats - INTERCEPTIONS
INTPDTD010Career Stats - Fumbles
FFFRFTD000Tackles
Sacks
Interceptions
Defense Fumbles
Za’Darius Smith
Season Stats
Previous Game (vs. WAS 1/18)
0
TCK
0
SCK
0
INT
-
TACKLES
TOTALASTSOLO351322Sacks
SCKSCKYDSTFL9670INTERCEPTIONS
INTPDTD010Fumbles
FFFRFTD000 -
TACKLES
TOTALASTSOLO000Sacks
SCKSCKYDSTFL000INTERCEPTIONS
INTPDTD010Fumbles
FFFRFTD000
Za’Darius Smith
Game Log
-
Regular SeasondefensiveDateOppResultSOLOASTTOTALSACKSACKYDSINTDEFTFL1/5W 31-930311701112/30W 40-340000000012/22W 34-170110000012/15L 42-480110000012/5W 34-312021700111/28W 23-201231.59.500111/24W 24-61010000011/17W 52-60110.54.5000
Previously with CLE 11/3L 10-271010000110/27W 29-2422411100210/20L 14-211121700110/13L 16-202130000010/6L 13-34213190019/29L 16-20213000009/22L 15-21314100009/15W 18-13000000009/8L 17-3321312001Regular Season Totals 221335967019 -
PostseasondefensiveDateOppResultSOLOASTTOTALSACKSACKYDSINTDEFTFL1/18L 31-4500000010
Postseason Totals 00000010
Za’Darius Smith Player Profile
Birthdate
9/8/1992 (32)
Status
UFA
HT/WT
6'4", 270 lbs
Draft Info
2015: Rd 4; Pk (BAL)
Birthplace
Montgomery, AL, USA
Position
DL
College
Kentucky
Experience
10 seasons
Career History
Cleveland Browns
2023-2025
(2 seasons)
Detroit Lions
2024-2024
(1 season)
Minnesota Vikings
2022-2023
(1 season)
Green Bay Packers
2019-2022
(3 seasons)
Baltimore Ravens
2015-2019
(4 seasons)
Za’Darius Smith Latest News
Expected to be released
The Lions are releasing Smith, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports. Smith was entering the second of a two-year, $23 million contract and would have been a $5.75 million cap hit for Detroit in 2025. The 33-year-old provided much-needed production for the Lions after being traded from the Browns last season, logging 4.0 sacks over the final eight games of the regular season. Smith totaled 9.0 sacks over 17 regular-season games in 2024, and he should get plenty of attention this offseason from teams in need of pass-rushing help. Meanwhile, the Lions will likely look to the Draft or free agency to find a new edge defender to play opposite Aidan Hutchinson, who is coming off a season-ending leg injury.
Finishes 2024 with 9.0 sacks
Smith logged 35 tackles (22 solo), including 9.0 sacks, and one pass defense across 17 regular-season games in 2024. Smith was in Cleveland for the first half of the 2024 regular season, but he was traded along with a 2026 seventh-round pick to Detroit in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick. Smith's production with the Lions mirrored his output with the Browns, and he gave Detroit much needed depth at defensive end following the loss of Aidan Hutchinson (leg). Smith will be under the final year of his two-year contract in 2025 and will form a formidable pass-rushing duo with Hutchinson once the latter is fully healthy.
Sacks Love in Week 14
Smith tallied two solo tackles, including 1.0 sacks, in Detroit's 34-31 win over Green Bay in Week 14. Smith sacked Jordan Love for a seven-yard loss midway through the first quarter. Smith has logged 3.0 sacks in the four regular-season games since being acquired by the Lions in a trade with the Browns in early November, and he's up to 8.0 sacks on the season through 13 regular-season games. He'll have his work cut out for him to add to that total against Josh Allen and the Bills in Week 15.
Practices in full Wednesday
Smith (personal) was not listed on Wednesday's injury report. Smith was held out of this past Sunday's game against Houston after being traded from Cleveland to Detroit on Nov. 5, but he will be good to go against Jacksonville on Sunday, Nov. 17. Through the first nine regular-season games with the Browns, Smith logged 23 tackles (15 solo), including 5.0 sacks.
Inactive Sunday
Smith (personal) is inactive for Sunday night's contest against the Texans. Smith will be unavailable in Week 10, as expected, after he was traded from the Browns to the Lions on Tuesday. The 32-year-old will now shift his focus to being ready to go for Week 11 versus the Jaguars on Nov. 17.
Not expected to play Sunday
Smith (personal), who is officially questionable for Sunday's Week 10 matchup against Houston, isn't likely to suit up, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Smith was dealt from Cleveland to Detroit on Tuesday, and Rapoport suggests that the edge rusher is "not quite ready" to make his Lions debut. Since he's not dealing with an injury, it seems likely that Smith will be able to participate in Detroit's following game, which will take place Sunday, Nov. 17 against Jacksonville. With Smith expected to be absent against the Texans, Josh Paschal and James Houston should continue to be called upon to rush the passer.
Questionable for Detroit debut
Smith (personal) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Texans. Smith was just acquired from the Browns at the trade deadline Tuesday, so it's fair to wonder if he's up to speed with the defense. If cleared to play, Smith could play on strict passing downs, allowing him to rush the passer.
Dealt to Detroit
The Lions acquired Smith and a 2026 seventh-round draft pick from the Browns on Tuesday in exchange for 2025 fifth-round draft pick and a 2026 sixth-round draft pick, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Detroit was in the market for pass-rushing help after defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (tibia/fibula) suffered a likely season-ending injury Week 6, and the addition of Smith fills that need. Through his nine games with Cleveland, Smith had notched five sacks among his 23 tackles and had generated a 19.1 percent win rate on his pass rushes, placing him 12th among edge rushers with at least 60 attempts, per Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. Smith should be ready to make his Lions debut this Sunday against the Texans.
Working through illness
Smith (illness) did not practice Wednesday, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports. Smith logged his fifth sack of the season during this past Sunday's win over the Ravens. However, the 2015 fourth-round pick is dealing with an illness, which kept him out of practice Wednesday and may impact his availability over the next two days. The Browns' final injury report Friday will indicate whether Smith will be able to suit up against the Chargers on Sunday.