After weeks of rumors swirling around the league, the Detroit Lions finally inked a deal with Za’Darius Smith. The fans had been buzzing all season, hopeful that the Lions could land a defensive powerhouse, and now, the news was official. Smith was joining the team on a $605,000 contract—a modest amount for such a talent, but it represented something far greater: a fresh start and a chance to prove his worth.
The Detroit Lions acquired defensive end Za’Darius Smith on Tuesday, sending a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 sixth-rounder to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for Smith and a 2026 seventh-round pick, league sources said.
Smith joins a Detroit team in need of an edge rusher. The NFC-leading Lions (7-1) have been hunting for one since losing Aidan Hutchinson to tibia and fibula fractures on Oct. 13 that will sideline him for the rest of the regular season.
Smith arrived in Detroit with a sense of purpose. Known for his tenacity and leadership on the field, he had something to prove. His last season had been plagued with injuries, and critics whispered that his prime was over. But Detroit’s coaching staff saw something different; they saw the hunger in his eyes, a drive that couldn’t be measured by stats or salary alone.
Smith, 32, is a three-time Pro Bowler, most recently in 2022 with the Minnesota Vikings. He was second on the Browns with five sacks in nine games this season.
The subject of trade rumors as Cleveland (2-7) has fallen out of contention, Smith had one tackle for loss in the team’s 27-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Afterward, he left the locker room without talking to reporters.
Hutchinson led Detroit with 7 1/2 sacks in five games before his injury. No other Lion has more than 2 1/2, and the team has one sack total in its last two games.
The NFL trade deadline is 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
In many ways, Smith was the target who made the most sense for the Lions. He checks a ton of boxes in terms of what the Lions look for: He can defend the run and set an edge. He entered Sunday 22nd in pressures with 27 and 14th in sacks with five.
In Smith, the Lions are getting a reliable edge rusher who helps account for the loss of Hutchinson. Smith could also return in 2025 as a strong fit opposite Hutchinson.
The Lions and Browns aren’t strangers — a deadline deal sent Donovan Peoples-Jones to Detroit a year ago — so there’s a familiarity between general managers Brad Holmes and Andrew Berry.
As a Super Bowl contender, the Lions couldn’t afford to stand pat at the deadline. Smith is a blueprint defensive end for defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. He’s consistent and productive — two things the Lions desperately needed. They now have it.
In that moment, the $605,000 deal felt like a steal. The Lions hadn’t just signed a player; they’d signed a game-changer.
Smith arrived in Detroit with a sense of purpose. Known for his tenacity and leadership on the field, he had something to prove. His last season had been plagued with injuries, and critics whispered that his prime was over. But Detroit’s coaching staff saw something different; they saw the hunger in his eyes, a drive that couldn’t be measured by stats or salary alone.
In his first practice with the Lions, Smith quickly became the heartbeat of the defense. His presence alone seemed to elevate his teammates, pushing them to new heights. The young players watched in awe as he unleashed his energy, leading by example and injecting a contagious intensity into each drill.
Game day finally arrived, and Ford Field was electric. Fans roared as Smith led the team out of the tunnel, donning the iconic Lions blue. And then, like a scene from a movie, he dominated. With each tackle, each sack, and each play he disrupted, it became clear that this wasn’t just another signing. Smith was exactly what Detroit had been missing—a player who played with passion, grit, and a chip on his shoulder.
In that moment, the $605,000 deal felt like a steal. The Lions hadn’t just signed a player; they’d signed a game-changer.