The Detroit Lions made a significant move to bolster their defense just before the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday.
Former Pro Bowl defensive lineman Za’Darius Smith has been traded from the Cleveland Browns to Detroit, according to multiple reports. The Browns are also including a seventh-round draft pick in the deal and will get back a fifth-round pick and a sixth-round pick.
The Browns acquired Smith in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings ahead of the 2023 season. They then signed him to a two-year, $23.5 million extension this offseason.
Smith made his third Pro Bowl in his lone season with the Vikings in 2022. He also made the Pro Bowl twice with the Green Bay Packers, whom he played for from 2019-21. Smith began his career with the Baltimore Ravens.
The 32-year-old Smith has been mentioned as a potential trade piece for several weeks now, and he seemed excited about the possibility of a fresh start. Detroit had a major need along its defensive front after Aidan Hutchinson suffered a season-ending injury in Week 6.
Smith is having an excellent season with 5.0 sacks through nine games after he had just 5.5 sacks all of last year. The Lions are already arguably the best team in the NFC, and the addition of Smith should make them even better.
