The Detroit Lions have acquired defensive end Za’Darius Smith in a trade with the Cleveland Browns, filling the void left after the season-ending injury to pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson. In exchange for Smith, the Lions will send the Browns a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, as well as a seventh-round pick in 2026.
Smith, a 10-year veteran, was a Pro Bowl selection in 2019, 2020 and 2022 and has totaled at least 10 sacks in each of those seasons. Smith, 32, joined the Browns through a 2023 trade from the Minnesota Vikings, and this season thus far has totaled five sacks through nine games this season, while logging 23 combined tackles, including six tackles for a loss.
Smith is owed a base salary of $1.5 million and a signing bonus of $4.025 million next season. Plus, he will carry a 2025 cap hit of $9.433 million. By trading for Smith, the Lions will owe him $605,000 guaranteed this season and $11 million guaranteed next year.
Cleveland fell to 2-7 on the season with Sunday’s 27-10 loss to the Chargers. The Lions (7-1) will face the Houston Texans (6-3) at 8:20 p.m. EST Sunday in Houston.
Editorial credit: Bryan Pollard / Shutterstock.com