The roster cut deadline might have come and gone, but the Patriots are continuing to make big time moves just eight days ahead of their Week 1 matchup with the Raiders. They stunned fans with the unexpected release of starting safety Jabrill Peppers on Friday, but slightly made up for it with the addition of impressive rookie defensive tackle Eric Gregory.
While that was a widely applauded move, there are still a lot of questions regarding the depth at several positions that could be addressed before the season begins. One of the seemingly more vulnerable areas is the pass rush, despite the upgrades they've made this offseason.
Because Keion White has slid down the depth chart and we are yet to see what the newly acquired players can do once the games actually matter, it's difficult to believe they made enough moves to feel comfortable with the defensive line.
Fortunately, the Lions chose to move on from one of their veterans who spent the 2024 season with them, who has a connection to Patriots' new defensive coordinator Terrell Williams, making him a no-brainer signing since he is still available.
The Patriots have all the reasons in the world to seriously consider adding a veteran defender
The Lions had an impressive year last season and were a favorite to make the Super Bowl for much of the playoffs. Because of the massive changes they've undergone over the last few months, it was inevitable that several players were going to be cut or not re-signed.
That was the fate of 32-year-old Za'Darius Smith, who remains a free agent less than a week before the season opener next Thursday. Detroit has publicly spoken about the possibility of bringing him back for the upcoming year, but appear hesitant to move forward with that claim.
That makes him available for the Patriots, as a reunion with Williams makes even more sense and makes it less worrisome to add a player so late in the offseason. He could easily acclimate to New England's scheme and be an immediate contributor in an area that has drawn the most concern ahead of their Week 1 game.
Smith is a proven talent who has consistently been a force against opposing quarterbacks. Between spending half the season with the Browns and the Lions, he recorded 35 combined tackles, nine for a loss, 17 quarterback hits, one pass defended, and nine sacks. That's the kind of production the Patriots could use to ensure their pass rush will be much better than last year.
They have the funds to afford him, although it won't be the cheapest contract they could offer to another free agent. But Smith checks all the boxes of what they need, especially since he would bring the much-needed depth that they are currently lacking, even as a starter.