CLEVELAND (AP) — Za’Darius Smith thought he was making a blind leap toward a Super Bowl when he re-signed with Cleveland, but a surprising trade has now landed him in Detroit.
On Tuesday, the Browns agreed to trade the seasoned edge rusher to the Detroit Lions, who are looking to strengthen their pass rush in light of star Aidan Hutchinson’s recent leg injury, according to a source familiar with the agreement.
As the Browns (2-7) begin their rebuilding phase after a disappointing start to the season, they are sending Smith along with a seventh-round pick in 2026 to the Lions. In exchange, Cleveland will receive a fifth-round pick in 2025 and a sixth-round pick in 2026, as reported by the anonymous source.
The arrangement was made just hours before the 4 p.m. trade deadline, although rumors of Smith’s departure had swirled for weeks as the Browns sought to gather draft capital for future seasons.
Meanwhile, with a strong record of 7-1, the Lions are serious contenders for the Super Bowl and have been prompted to find a replacement to fill the significant gap left by Hutchinson’s injury, which occurred during a game against Dallas on October 13.
Last season, Smith played a vital role in helping the Browns reach the playoffs before signing a two-year, $23 million contract in March. Initially acquired in a trade with Minnesota, he was brought on board to support star pass rusher Myles Garrett. The Browns finished the previous season with an 11-6 record, earning a wild-card playoff berth and seeing Garrett honored as the AP Defensive Player of the Year.
This season, however, has not unfolded as anticipated, leading Cleveland to consider further trades as they shift their focus to rebuilding for 2025 and beyond, as noted by general manager Andrew Berry.
Smith, a three-time Pro Bowler at 32 years old, boasts an impressive career total of 65 sacks, including five in the current season. Following a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, he confirmed he had heard rumors about the impending trade to Detroit, exclaiming, “Oh, that happened? See you all.”
Now, Smith returns to the NFC North after stints with the Vikings and the Green Bay Packers, having originally been drafted in the fourth round by Baltimore in 2015, where he played for four seasons.
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