The Detroit Lions have finally added a pass rusher in a trade for Cleveland’s Za’Darius Smith. View the trade details below.
Za’Darius Smith Traded To Detroit Lions
A new defensive end in Detroit: the Lions are acquiring former Pro-Bowl DE Za'Darius Smith in a trade with the Cleveland Browns, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 5, 2024
After hinting at adding another pass rusher to replace Aidan Hutchinson, the Detroit Lions finally pulled the trigger.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Cleveland Browns are sending Smith and a 2026 seventh-round draft pick to the Detroit Lions for a 2025 fifth-rounder and a 2026 sixth-rounder.
The Lions will pay the remaining $605,000 of Smith’s salary in 2024. The Browns already paid Smith $11.3 million in compensation this season.
Smith has one year remaining on his contract. However, the deal includes $11 million in non-guaranteed money, meaning the Lions could easily move on from Smith after this season if it doesn’t work out.
If Smith does perform well, it provides Detroit with a suitable pass rusher to pair across from Hutchinson.
Detroit Lions Are The Class Of The NFC
Welcome to Detroit, @zadariussmith❗️
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 5, 2024
By making a move for Smith, the Lions understand they are in the middle of a championship window.
After Hutchinson suffered a season-ending leg injury in October, the Lions have been trying to bolster their defensive line that struggles to create pressure.
Smith is the kind of player Detroit needs to help their pass rush. Smith has five sacks in nine games with the Browns this season. With Hutchinson out, Smith’s 26 pressures this year now rank first on the Lions’ defense.
Detroit (7-1) looks like the best team in the NFC, having not lost a game since Week 2. The Lions hit the road in Week 10 to play the Houston Texans (6-3) on Sunday Night Football.
