Smith was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft, so the Lions are probably extremely familiar with him. Given that Smith spent his first three NFL seasons as a member of the Saints coaching staff, it goes without saying that Smith’s time in New Orleans was overlapped by defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and coach Dan Campbell.

Smith spent five seasons as a player in New Orleans, making 35 starts in all. A modest 2020 season in which he caught 34 catches for 448 yards and four touchdowns was his greatest statistical year. Smith was either the WR3 or WR4 option for the majority of his career with the Saints. He was a member of the Denver Broncos practice squad for the majority of 2023.

Smith is a respectable outside wide depth option for the Lions, something they have sorely missed over the past three seasons at 6-foot-1 with 4.49 speed. Even with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Kalif Raymond, Antoine Green, Tom Kennedy, Maurice Alexander, and Daurice Fountain all under contract, Detroit has a respectable depth chart at receiver for 2024. However, the majority of these players lack the ideal combination of size and speed. Smith might present some new competition in the room because he can play both the outside and the slot, especially with Donovan Peoples-Jones and Josh Reynolds ready to become free agents.

Smith finished the season on the Broncos practice squad, which is why the Lions are permitted to host him and perhaps sign him. Smith became a free agent and could sign with any team he wanted when Denver decided not to offer him a futures contract at the end of the season.