The Lions release of Za'Darius Smith sucks, but it was a necessary move

The problem was Smith's contract structure. He was in line to get paid $8.99 million in bonuses on the third day of the new league year, which is next week on March 15. 

The bonuses would have jumped Smith's salary up to $11 million in 2025 had he played for the Lions. But there's more: If he had not re-signed after 2025 he would have counted $5,242,500 against the cap in 2026 even though he's not on the team.

It's because of the void years tacked onto his deal, which created another issue on their own. It makes it cheaper upfront, but boil it all down, the Lions would have had to eventually pay the tab on the money they kicked down the road, which is what void years ensure. If the Lions had re-signed Smith after 2025, then the void years would have been tacked onto the end of whatever length of the new deal represented.

That is a lot of money for a 33-year-old edge rusher. While the Lions are in good standing with cap space next season, this is a lot of money that they could clear off the books to help them get younger at the position. 

The way out of this was parting with him before the new league year starts, they now don't have to pay any dead money and they save over $5.7 million against the cap.  

The Lions now can have a lot easier time getting things done without that $11 million contract on the books.