The Detroit Lions (7-1) have addressed their defensive end shortage with a major deadline move.
The Cleveland Browns will send Za’Darius Smith and a seventh-round pick in 2026 to the Lions for a fifth-round pick in 2025 and a sixth-round pick in 2026, DailyMail.com has confirmed. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport first reported the deal.
Smith, 32, has five sacks in eight games this season and would go a long way toward replacing injured Pro-Bowl selection Aidan Hutchinson, who broke his tibia and fibula in Week 6.
Considered by many to be a Super Bowl contender after reaching the NFC Championship last season, the Lions’ biggest obstacle this season has been injuries along the defensive line.
“I feel like we can beat anyone in the league,” coach Dan Campbell said Monday after the Lions improved to 7-1 for the first time since 1956.
According to multiple outlets, the Cleveland Browns are sending Za’Darius Smith to the Lions for undisclosed assets.
Detroit Lions defensive star Aidan Hutchinson suffered horrific leg fracture in Week 6
