Detroit Lions finally find pass-rushing help, trading for Za'Darius Smith
After spending the past few weeks exploring the options, general manager Brad Holmes finally found much-needed pass-rushing help for the Detroit Lions on Tuesday, acquiring veteran Za’Darius Smith in a trade with the Cleveland Browns.
A source familiar with the agreement said the Lions are sending a fifth-round pick in 2025 and 2026 sixth to the Browns and getting back Smith and a 2026 seventh-rounder.
A 10-year veteran, Smith entered the league in 2015 as a fourth-round draft pick out of Kentucky. He spent his first four seasons with Baltimore before spending the next four in the NFC North, first in Green Bay, then in Minnesota, earning three Pro Bowl selections during that stretch.
Smith has been with Cleveland since last season. And with the Browns struggling in 2024, he was approached by local reporters about the possibility of being traded to the Lions a couple weeks back.
“If I was to go to Detroit, I would like it because I get to play Green Bay twice a year and the Vikings twice a year,” Smith said. “So, yeah, that’ll be big. I’m staying positive, but now that you say that, it might be a good look, a good feel for me.”
Smith helps fill a massive void in Detroit’s lineup following season-ending injuries to Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport. The 6-foot-4, 270-pound Smith is a stylistic fit for the Lions, and he continues to be productive despite turning 32 years old earlier this season. Through Cleveland's first eight games, he tallied 5.0 sacks and 26 total pressures.
An added bonus with the addition is Smith remains under contract for the 2025 season.
This year, he’ll cost next to nothing against the cap. The Lions are only responsible for the remaining portion of his $1.2 million base salary. Next year, he carries a $1.5 million base salary, a $2 million roster bonus, up to $510,000 in per game bonuses, and a $7 million option bonus. Nothing in 2025 is guaranteed, if the Lions opted to part ways after this season.
Because the Browns added four void years to the end of Smith’s deal when he signed, only a prorated $1.4 million of the option bonus would count against the cap in 2025, if the Lions exercised it, but it would leave a lingering dead-money hit of $5.6 million in 2026 after the deal expires.
Smith's 2025 cap hit would be approximately $5.4 million in that scenario.
This is pretty much exactly what I expected. TG!
Happy for a reinforcement. And to your point, not looking for him to make a gigantic splash, just help out. And make guys around him better.