The Cleveland Browns have landed a major piece for their defense post-2023 NFL Draft.
On Friday evening, the Minnesota Vikings traded outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith to Cleveland in exchange for draft picks.
The former Baltimore Ravens and Green Bay Packers pass rusher posted up 10 sacks for the Vikings last season and has posted up double-digit sacks three out of the last four seasons. He missed most all of 2021 with injury.
Smith reportedly wanted out of Minnesota as early as March, but the Vikings didn’t want to release him and opted instead to trade the veteran rusher to the AFC.
In Cleveland, he’ll pair with elite defensive end Myles Garrett for at least a year to form a lethal pass-rushing duo.
The #Vikings are trading three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Za’Darius Smith to the #Browns, sources tell me and @TomPelissero.
His reworked deal guarantees him $11.75 million in 2023 and he’ll be a FA next March. Deal negotiated by his new agent @ErikBurkhardt of @RocNationSports. pic.twitter.com/dBld2TfSzp
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 12, 2023
Who came out on top in this trade, Cleveland or Minnesota?
Order "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom" today!
The details
Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, here’s the compensation for both parties.
Vikings get: A 2024 fifth-round pick, a 2025 fifth-round pick
Browns get: OLB Za’Darius Smith, a 2025 sixth-round pick, a 2025 seventh-round pick
The full trade, per league source:#Browns get:
Za'Darius Smith
2025 6th-round pick
2025 7th-roundpick#Vikings get:
2024 5th-round pick
2025 5th-round pick https://t.co/outlkV71ME— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 12, 2023
Cleveland Browns
After releasing Jadeveon Clowney, the Cleveland Browns really needed to land a strong complimentary piece for Garrett, the team’s superstar edge rusher.
Adding Smith on a rental deal for 2023 could really help Cleveland’s defensive line to become one of the best in the NFL. Garrett and Smith combined for 26 sacks last season, and that’s just outrageous production for your bookend edge rushers.
While Smith will be about 31 when the season starts, his 2022 season showed he’s still got plenty of gas left in the tank.
When you factor in the Browns signing defensive end Ogbonnia Okoronkwo in free agency and drafting promising Mizzou edge Isaiah McGuire, the team’s pass rush looks ready to terrorize the AFC North’s quarterbacks.
If quarterback Deshaun Watson falters in his first full season of reps since 2020, Cleveland will have to lean on its defense to win games. Adding Smith helps that pursuit, even if it’s just for a year, and the compensation (two fifth-rounders) is perfectly reasonable.
Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry pulled off a really nice trade here.
Trade grade: A
Minnesota Vikings
Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah did his former Cleveland boss Berry a big favor with this trade.
Minnesota didn’t really have a lot of options on the table if Smith really wanted out and possibly wouldn’t have reported for offseason training.
However, it’s hard to say this move helps the Vikings keep tabs on the ever-changing NFC North right now. The team signed outside linebacker Marcus Davenport in free agency but only on a one-year deal.
Davenport’s injury history makes him a bit of a risk to pair with Danielle Hunter, who is now Minnesota’s de-facto edge rusher. Having Smith would’ve certainly helped this season, but if he wanted out, he wanted out.
Undrafted edge rusher Andre Carter II could wind up playing a key role in the future after his draft stock strangely fell, but the Vikings have just lost 10 sacks on their defensive line. That’s not something you can easily replace, and they’re trying to retain the division crown this fall.
Two fifth-round picks can help down the road, but you wonder if Adofo-Mensah could’ve landed a higher pick for 2024 because of what Smith can do on the field. Maybe this is him making lemonade out of lemons since Smith wanted out, and this is a much better result than an outright release.
However, Minnesota isn’t as good without Smith on its roster, and the compensation feels just a bit low for a guy coming off a 10-sack season. The Vikings shouldn’t have had to even give up the low compensation they did to get the deal done.
Minnesota might want to look to free agency to add another veteran rusher in case Davenport gets hurt. Heck, maybe give Clowney a call?
Trade grade: B-
