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The Detroit Lions got the missing piece that they needed to enhance their pass rush ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET trade deadline.
The Lions acquired veteran edge rusher Za’Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday, according to sources informed of the situation.
Detroit sent over minimal compensation, a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 sixth-rounder to Cleveland in exchange for Smith and a 2026 seventh-round selection.
The 7-1 Lions desperately needed pass rush help after losing star Aidan Hutchinson, who is a native of Michigan. Outside of defensive tackle Alim McNeill, Detroit has struggled to generate consistent pressure since Hutchinson went down with a broken right fibula and tibia against the Dallas Cowboys. In Sunday’s 24-14 win over the Green Bay Packers, McNeill had five quarterback pressures, per Next Gen Stats. The rest of the defensive line did not show up to the party tallying five combined.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe lack of a pass rush puts defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn’s secondary in compromising positions. It is a testament to him and a remade secondary that they have kept opponents out of the end zone as well as they have since losing Hutchinson.
In Smith, who is familiar with the division, Detroit is getting a proven veteran pass rusher who also plays the run extraordinarily well, something the Lions take incredibly seriously and value in their defensive system. A former Packer and Viking, Smith knows his way around the NFC North and provides an immediate upgrade. His 26 QB pressures put him at No. 2 on the Lions, behind only Hutchinson’s 30 in 2024.
The 32-year-old is coming off a subpar season in 2023, generating 5.5 sacks, but has seen his play return to the elite level that he is use to in 2024, generating five in nine games in Cleveland. The veteran acknowledged that transitioning from playing in a 3-4 scheme to joining the Browns’ 4-3 defense took some time for him to adapt to. The good news for the Lions is that he has shown the ability to turn the corner in a 4-3 this season.
It is not an earth-shattering move for the NFC North-leading Lions, but it adds a much-needed player who can win his one-on-one matchups. Smith has one year left on his deal with $11 million in non-guaranteed money, which likely played a role in the framework of the contract. He could be a perfect fit alongside Hutchinson next year, or Detroit could use him as a rental and move on after the season.
The Browns, off to a dismal 2-7 start, were in clear sell mode. First, they traded away Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills. Now Smith. Getting a fifth-round pick adds to the Browns’ treasure trove of picks in 2025 (nine, not counting potential compensatory selections). A 32-year-old pass rusher is a superfluous weapon for a last-place club that sorely needs an injection of young talent.
With Lombardi hopes growing bigger and bigger in Motown, the Lions needed to make a deadline move to add front-line help. General manager Brad Holmes did not disappoint.
