The Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers have been named the top landing spots for a former Pro Bowl edge rusher who is shockingly still on the market.
Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox connected free-agent edge rusher Za'Darius Smith to Detroit and San Francisco.
San Francisco should still consider adding veteran Za'Darius Smith to round out a rotation that also includes Nick Bosa and trade acquisition Bryce Huff.
The Detroit Lions should also consider bringing back Smith, who spent the second half of 2024 with the franchise. The Lions need depth with both Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport returning from season-ending injuries.
Smith isn't the most exciting player, but the 32-year-old can still be a productive member of any NFL defense. The veteran defender tallied nine sacks and 66 quarterback pressures in 17 games last season, and was a nice midseason acquisition by the Lions at the trade deadline.
The 49ers traded for Bryce Huff from the Philadelphia Eagles and selected Mykel Williams in the first round of April's draft to upgrade the edge rusher room and give Nick Bosa some help.
However, signing an experienced player like Smith to add more depth to the position group would be a savvy move by general manager John Lynch. San Francisco still has $46.8 million in cap space, so they have the money to sign Smith.
A reunion in Detroit has always made sense for Smith and the Lions. The team still has a glaring need at edge rusher, and bringing back a familiar face who was pretty good in 2024 would be a logical move.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes was recently asked about a potential reunion with Smith, and he didn't shut down the possibility.
"Za'Darius did a lot of good things last year for us and we said we’re going to keep in contact with his agent," Holmes told 97.1 The Ticket on August 6.
Overall, the Lions and 49ers would be excellent fits for Smith. However, heading back to Detroit for another crack at winning a Super Bowl seems like the ideal situation for the three-time Pro Bowler.
Smith expressed interest in re-signing with the Lions in June after being released in March.
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