The Detroit Lions have managed to win games despite the absence of star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson. However, they’ve still been giving opposing quarterbacks too much time in the pocket.
To address this issue and strengthen their defense, the Lions have acquired Za’Darius Smith, a veteran edge rusher from the Cleveland Browns. The addition of the three-time Pro Bowler is expected to bring a much-needed boost to Detroit’s pass rush as they aim for a deep playoff run.
The trade, which was finalized on Tuesday before the NFL’s trade deadline, sees the Lions sending a 5th-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and a 6th-round pick in 2026 to Cleveland. In return, Detroit also receives a 7th-round pick in the 2026 Draft, according to sources including ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Smith, 32, is in his 10th season in the league and becomes a key acquisition for the Lions as they look to fill the void left by Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport, both of whom are sidelined with season-ending injuries.
