Pittsburgh, PA – April 3, 2025
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been busy reshaping their roster this offseason, but their edge rusher group could soon get a major boost. With T.J. Watt locked in as a perennial All-Pro and Alex Highsmith secured through 2027, A to Z Sports’ Mike Payton predicts GM Omar Khan will bolster the pass rush by signing recently released Detroit Lions edge rusher Za’Darius Smith, a move that could form one of the NFL’s fiercest trios.
“Smith’s release caught some off guard, but the Lions didn’t want to tangle with his void years and risk paying him off the roster,” Payton wrote. “A Detroit reunion’s unlikely—they’re eyeing the draft. Pittsburgh, though, makes perfect sense.” Smith, 32, became a free agent after the Lions cut him pre-free agency, following a mid-2024 trade from the Cleveland Browns where he played nine games for Dan Campbell’s squad.
The three-time Pro Bowler remains a force, racking up 9 sacks and 63 quarterback pressures across 17 games in 2024. Since entering the league in 2015, he’s notched three double-digit sack seasons, proving age hasn’t dulled his edge. “He’s still got juice—Steelers could use that spark,” Payton added. Pairing Smith with Watt (96.5 career sacks) and Highsmith (consistent 5-7 sacks) would forge a terrifying pass-rush trio, amplifying Pittsburgh’s top-tier defense.
Smith’s $11 million cap hit from his Lions deal won’t break the bank—his market value hovers around $6-8 million annually (Spotrac)—fitting Pittsburgh’s $2 million cap space post-Tyron Smith and J.K. Dobbins signings. Fan buzz on X ignited: “Watt, Highsmith, and Za’Darius? Unstoppable!” (@SteelCityFan). With QB uncertainty lingering—awaiting Aaron Rodgers or eyeing a draft pick—this move signals a Super Bowl leap for 2025, blending veteran savvy with relentless depth.
