After weeks of speculation on how the Detroit Lions would address the gap left by Aidan Hutchinson’s injury, the team made a decisive move on Tuesday morning.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Lions acquired edge rusher Za’Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns through an exchange involving several draft picks. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Cleveland will also cover Smith’s remaining 2024 salary.
Following the trade news, Lions quarterback Jared Goff shared his reaction on 97.1 The Ticket. While he couldn’t provide full details, as the trade wasn’t official, Goff hinted at his familiarity with Smith.
“I don’t know who you’re talking about, but yeah, he’s been giving me a hard time for a long time now,” Goff said, referencing past matchups with Smith, as noted by Will Burchfield. Goff faced Smith both in 2022, when Smith played for the Minnesota Vikings, and earlier in Goff’s career with the Los Angeles Rams, while Smith was with the Green Bay Packers.
Goff wasn’t the only one to weigh in on the trade. Head coach Dan Campbell, during his regular segment on 97.1 The Ticket, commented humorously on Rapoport’s report.
“Ian’s got all the answers, doesn’t he?” Campbell joked. “You’d hate it if Ian was wrong, wouldn’t you?”
Campbell continued, praising general manager Brad Holmes. “Brad knows what he’s doing, and if it works out, great,” he said. “If it doesn’t, it doesn’t, but giving away high capital for a player we don’t like wouldn’t sit well with any of us. If it makes sense, it makes sense.”
With Smith now on board, it remains to be seen if the Lions will make additional moves before the trade deadline on Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 4 p.m. ET.
