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Detroit Lions acquire pass rusher Za’Darius Smith from Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions acquire pass rusher Za’Darius Smith from Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions acquire pass rusher Za’Darius Smith from Cleveland Browns

Ford Field^ home of the Detroit Lions on November 10^ 2020 in downtown Detroit^ Michigan.

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

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