Oct 27, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive end Za’Darius Smith (99) sacks Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) during the second half at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images The Detroit Lions acquired three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Za’Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday.
The Lions confirmed the move about two hours before the 4 p.m. ET trade deadline.
In addition to Smith, Detroit receives a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. In exchange, the Browns get a fifth-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft and a sixth-round pick in 2026.
A winner of six consecutive games, the NFC North-leading Lions (7-1) are looking to bolster their pass rush to make up for losing defensive end Aidan Hutchinson to a broken tibia and fibula in his left leg last month. Hutchinson was leading the NFL with 7.5 sacks at the time of his injury.
Smith, 32, has recorded five sacks to go along with 23 tackles in nine games (all starts) this season.
A Pro Bowl selection in 2019, 2020 and 2022, Smith has totaled 65 sacks, 321 tackles and 10 forced fumbles in 132 career games (89 starts) with the Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and Browns.
The AFC North cellar-dwelling Browns (2-7) traded Pro Bowl wide receiver Amari Cooper and a sixth-round pick in 2025 to the Buffalo Bills last month for a third-round selection in 2025 and a seventh-rounder in 2026.
Also Tuesday, NFL Network reported that Cleveland was releasing veteran defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson.
Jefferson, 31, has appeared in five games (no starts) in his first season with the Browns, collecting six tackles and one sack.
Jefferson has 198 tackles, 27.5 sacks, 79 quarterback hits and four fumble recoveries in 108 games (62 starts) with the Seattle Seahawks (2016-19, 2022), Bills (2020), Las Vegas Raiders (2021), New York Jets (2023) and Browns.
–Field Level Media