After acting for a star piece about the line of defense last season, the Detroit Lions were set to cut the same player – because he is a luxury that the team can no longer pay.
In a surprising step, several reports indicate that the Sa'darius Smith team will release prior to the start of the free desk.
Detroit exchanged a 2025 fifth round pick and a sixth round of the sixth round from 2026 in November in November to use his talents halfway through last season.
That was a trade out of necessity after the star pass of the Lions Rusher Aidan Hutchinson perished with a seasonal injury.
In the low season, Detroit Edge Rusher Marcus Davenport again signed to a deal after being injured earlier in the season.
Add a healthy Josh Paschal and it seems that the lions no longer need Smith's skills.
It is a surprising move, not only because the lions have given up picks, but because Smith performed well for Detroit.
There would be no universe where they now cut Hutchinson. Paschal played 14 games last season, but only managed 15 tackles and two bags. Davenport only played two games and got half a bag and has not played double digits since 2022.
Smith, on the other hand, may have played only eight games in Detroit – but he ended the season with four bags for the Lions. That is the second most in the team behind the injured Hutchinson.
This therefore seems to be less a decision about statistics and more about contracts.
Hutchinson is a top player in the team and they have just signed Davenport this season. If they cut Paschal, the lions would accept a dead cap of $ 700,000.
But when the OM Smith arrives, the lions can move his entire salary – which would have had a $ 5.7 million cap – of the books with this cut.
More to follow.
