Analyst says what all Lions fans want to hear about perfect FA target

As we approach the beginning of minicamps for rookies and UDFAs, the Detroit Lions are primed to run it back on their defensive line with Aidan Hutchinson as their budding star pass rusher and with a hopefully starting caliber rookie in Ahmed Hassanein.

That's because the Lions haven't re-signed Za'Darius Smith, who was traded for this past season from the Cleveland Browns to help try and replicate some of the production lost after Hutchinson broke his leg in Week 5.

Smith ended up stacking nine total sacks on the year between his time with the Browns and Lions, and he was simply exactly as advertised when acquired by the team: the perfect stopgap edge rusher to utilize in Hutchinson's absence.

But, the Lions have the opportunity to now have Smith and Hutchinson on the line together. That'd take a huge weight off of the rookie Hassanein and his ability to get up to NFL speed, and a weight off of first round pick Tyleik Williams who is expected to develop his pass rush game ahead of the 2025 season.

One analyst, PFF writer Mason Cameron, certainly agrees with the idea that the Lions should be doing what they can to get Smith back in the trenches alongside Hutchinson after he proved he can perform well in a high-level Lions defense.

Analyst names most obvious target for Lions as best offseason move left to make

Cameron wrote in his piece highlighting what each NFC team should be doing to further fortify their clubs that the Lions' biggest move left is to "embrace a mercenary edge defender," who Cameron correctly identifies as Smith.

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"The team struggled to maintain the same level of pass rush, but Smith was very productive, posting a 10.4 pass-rush productivity rating and an 18.3% pass-rush win rate while racking up 40 pressures and five sacks. Getting both Smith and Hutchinson on the field together in 2025 would boost the Lions’ pass rush substantially," wrote Cameron.

Hutchinson was already on pace to lead the league in sacks prior to his injury, having picked up 7.5 sacks in just five games played in 2024. Imagining that level of production next to a fellow 7+ sack-getter in Smith is jarring - for other teams. For Detroit fans, it'd answer all the questions around why the Lions hadn't pursued anyone aggressively this offseason to pair with Hutchinson.

The pair would immediately contend with other formidable pass rush defenses like the Browns, Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, and Philadelphia Eagles.

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