Open thread: What would a Za’Darius Smith contract with the Lions look like?

Breaking down what a Za’Darius Smith contract would look like with the Detroit Lions.

This week, free agent pass rusher Za’Darius Smith made it clear he would love to play for the Detroit Lions again in 2025.

“We both know where I want to be,” Smith told USA TODAY. “Hopefully I can get back to Detroit because the coaching staff and everybody in the front office are great. When I’m there I feel like a leader and like I can influence the young guys and do great things. Hopefully I can get back to where I want to be in Detroit.”

We also know that the Detroit Lions are open to Smith returning, despite the fact that the released him back in March. General manager Brad Holmes spoke openly about the move at the spring owners meetings, admitting this was purely a financial move—saving the team $11 million over two years.

“We just weren’t in a position to keep him at his salary,” Holmes said. “Because look, he played some good snaps for us and he made plays for us when we acquired him, so we would have loved to (have) been able to keep him. We just weren’t able to.”

The question now is whether the two sides can come up with contract terms that will make Smith happy and fit into Detroit’s tight budget? So today’s Question of the Day is:

What should a Za’Darius Smith contract with the Lions look like?

My answer: The first discussion should be the length, but that’s likely a short discussion. Smith will be 33 in the first month of the season, so any contract beyond a single year is probably out of the question. A one-year deal seems inevitable for Smith.

But how much are the Lions willing to pay for Smith?

Smith’s original contract with Detroit was set to have a $5.7 million cap hit in 2025 with an additional $5.2 hitting in 2026 as dead cap. It’s clear $11 million—even if it’s split over two years—is too expensive for the Lions.

However, Smith is going to want something reasonable compared to what he produces on the field. Last year, he produced 9.0 sacks after having 5.5 in 2023 and 10.0 in 2022. So let’s just say he’s good for somewhere in the 6-8 sack range next year at age 33. What are some salary comparisons for players with that production at that age?

• Leonard Floyd — will be 33 — 8.5 sacks last year — 1 year, $10 million
• Von Miller — 36 years old — 6.0 sacks — unsigned
• Khalil Mack — 34 years old — 6.0 sacks — 1 year, $18 million
• Harold Landry — 29 years old — 9.0 sacks — 3 years, $43.5 million ($14.5 million a year)

This is why a deal likely hasn’t been done yet. While Smith doesn’t exactly have the long-term reputation as the players above, his production matches theirs at this point in their respective...