The Patriots did an exceptional job addressing their defense during the offseason, particularly in free agency. That was particularly true along the defensive front, as New England swooped in and landed pass rusher Milton Williams, who was a wrecking ball for Philadelphia in the Super Bowl.
New England also poached cornerback Carlton Davis III from Detroit to pair with Christian Gonzalez. If reports out of Detroit are any indication, Davis may not be the last Lion to head to the Patriots.
According to DetroitJockCity.com, it's not impossible to believe that the Lions could be shopping one of their pass rushers, with New England being a likely destination.
Za'Darius Smith could be the Patriots' next best free agent signing
Smith was traded from the Browns to Detroit last year after it became known that he wanted to leave Cleveland, and who could blame him, given the Browns' mess?
That deal made sense for the Lions after Aiden Hutchinson was lost for the season due to injury, but with one of the league's best pass rushers returning, Smith appears to be expendable. And the Patriots should be the ones to pounce on the free agent.
In eight games with the Lions, Smith racked up four sacks while putting 36 pressures on opposing quarterbacks. He would be an instant boost to New England's pass rush.
According to nfltraderumors.com, Smith ranks as the seventh best available free agent, and Logan Ulrich believes he’ll sign with New England.
The other big factor is Smith’s ties to Patriots’ defensive coordinator Terrell Williams. Williams was Smith’s defensive line coach last season with the Lions, and the presence of Williams in New England could make the Patriots favorites to sign Smith.
Smith's best run came in 2019-2020 with the Packers when he compiled 26 sacks. While he is 32 years old, it appears he has plenty of tread left on his ties. With Williams in the Patriots' fold and Christian Barmore looking healthy, the Patriots' pass rush already looks formidable for the 2025 season.
While it looks like Smith could stay in Detroit, if the Patriots can swing a good deal without spending too much money, signing of the Lions' pass rusher may be one of the final pieces to what could be one of the league's best defenses in 2025.