ESPN: Jets sign a blockbuster deal to land Lions $23 million, 69-sack ex-all-pro.
After the 2025 NFL Draft, the New York Jets still require defensive line support.
Jet Nation analyst James Wudi outlined the reasons the green and white should sign Za’Darius Smith, a former defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions, in this last round of free agency.
I’ll say this about Za’Darius: he’s an older man who obviously still has a lot of energy, and he recently collaborated with Aaron Glenn last year. Boom, boom, boom, those boxes: give me Za’Darius,” Wudi contended on “Boy Green Meets Wudi.”
Smith was released by the Lions on March 9. His contract, at $23 million, was up in a year.
“Money was the only factor in the Detroit Lions’ decision to cut Za’Darius Smith this summer. “The Lions just could not afford to keep Smith and the $11 million in base salary and bonuses he was due in 2025,” stated Lions general manager Brad Holmes, according to Dave Birkett of Yahoo Sports. “Smith was asked to accept a pay cut by the Lions, but he chose to pursue free agent options instead.”
Before the previous season, this defensive line group appeared to be a strength, but it soon turned into a weakness. The transfer of John Franklin-Myers to the Broncos for scraps appears to be one of Joe Douglas’ worst decisions. Last season, they missed him, particularly when Haason Reddick missed half of the season in an unsuccessful bid to increase his salary and Jermaine Johnson tore his Achilles in Week 2. According to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic, “[Will] McDonald (10.5 sacks, 24 QB hits) was one of the team’s biggest success stories and should be better in 2025, but the depth was poor in 2024 and Reddick was a disaster once he returned.”
However, the depth appears to be just as poor in 2025, and the Jets are counting on Johnson to bounce back from an Achilles injury, which is not a given. Something went horribly wrong if [Micheal] Clemons plays anything close to 54 percent of the defensive snaps as he did a year ago. It would be wise for the Jets to include a veteran in this group. “Za’Darius Smith, a former Lions edge, is still available,” Rosenblatt continued.
Smith, 32, played for the Cleveland Browns in the beginning of the 2024 season before joining the Lions at the end.
The former Pro Bowl player received a 2025 fifth and a 2026 sixth in return for a 2026 seventh-round selection.
Smith’s statistics remained unchanged despite the change in location.
In 2024, the former Kentucky standout recorded nine sacks, nine tackles for loss, and seventeen quarterback hits.
Smith has had at least 8.5 sacks in five seasons since 2018.
Last season, the Jets lacked depth, and this offseason, they haven’t done anything to address it. Even though Gang Green selected a developing pass rusher with a day three draft choice, it didn’t make a difference.
The Jets would be better off hiring a seasoned mercenary. The Jets require a pass rusher, and Smith is capable of sacking the quarterback. With a player who is already familiar with the plan, it is a match made in heaven.
