Trade: Lions Trade For Browns DL Za’Darius Smith

Lions acquire:

• DL Za’Darius Smith
• 2026 seventh-round pick

Browns acquire: 

• 2025 fifth-round pick
• 2026 sixth-round pick

All indications were that Smith was going to end up in Detroit and it looks like the two parties were able to hammer out a deal before the deadline. 

The Lions could use some additional pass-rush help after losing Aidan Hutchinson to a serious leg fracture. 

Smith, 32, is a former fourth-round pick of the Ravens back in 2015. He played out the final year of his four-year rookie contract before agreeing to a four-year, $66 million contract with the Packers in 2019. 

Smith had one year remaining on his contract and was set to make a base salary of $14,500,000 for the 2021 season when the Packers released him. 

The Ravens reached an agreement with Smith on a four-year deal worth $35 million, but he opted to back out of the deal and sign a three-year, $42 million contract with the Vikings. From there, the Vikings traded Smith to the Browns and he agreed to a two-year, $23.5 million contract with Cleveland this past March. 

In 2024, Smith has appeared in eight games for the Browns and recorded 22 total tackles and five sacks.