Current:Home > reviewsZa'Darius Smith trade grades: Who won deal between Lions, Browns? -ProfitLogic
Za'Darius Smith trade grades: Who won deal between Lions, Browns?
View
Date:2025-04-24 19:10:25
Dan Campbell doesn't have to answer for the Detroit Lions' trade deadline plans anymore.
Hours ahead of the NFL's cutoff for moves on Tuesday, the Lions agreed to acquire defensive end Za'Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns. According to multiple reports, Smith and a 2026 seventh-round draft pick will go to the Lions, who in turn will receive a 2025 fifth-round draft pick and a 2026 sixth-round draft pick.
The move addresses a void that had stood for Detroit ever since Aidan Hutchinson suffered a broken tibia and fibula three weeks ago. The Pro Bowl defensive end was leading the NFL in sacks at the time, and his injury left Detroit perilously thin at a key position. Cleveland, meanwhile, continued to offload after earlier dealing Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills.
Za'Darius Smith trade grades
Lions: A-
With the 7-1 Lions off to their best start since 1956 and looking like a legitimate threat to make their first Super Bowl appearance, adding a starter at defensive end to replace Hutchinson was essentially a necessity for Brad Holmes. In Smith, 32, he found likely the best option on the market as far as a short-term fix for this team. The three-time Pro Bowl selection shouldn't be expected to reach the same heights Hutchinson did in what was looking like an NFL Defensive Player of the Year campaign – his 7 ½ sacks still account for 37.5% of the team's production in that category – but replacing his impact and production was never on the table. Smith, who has five sacks this year, should provide a good bit of pressure while still satisfying Campbell's demand to remain stout against the run. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn likely will still need to be creative in dialing up blitzes to help this front four – Detroit ranks sixth in blitz rate on the season at 29.8%, according to Pro Football Reference – but it's hard to beat this price and payoff.
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
Browns grade: C
For one of the best players still available on deadline day, this seems like a relatively meager return. Maybe there weren't enough other bidders for a half-season rental, but it's hard to believe that a proven product at a premium position wouldn't generate more interest as other teams gear up for a playoff push. Regardless, moving on from Smith was the right move for a franchise that needs to do some serious restocking in the draft given the drain that the Deshaun Watson trade created for its young talent.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
veryGood! (186)
Related
- Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
- Wisconsin judge sentences man to nearly 20 years in connection with 2016 firebombing incident
- When does 'America's Got Talent' return? Premiere date, judges, where to watch Season 19
- Fans in Portugal camp out 24 hours before Eras Tour show to watch Taylor Swift
- Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
- Want to be a Roth IRA millionaire? 3 tips all retirees should know
- Building your retirement savings? This 1 trick will earn you exponential wealth
- Q&A: Should We Be Having Babies In a Warming World?
- Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
- Bill Walton, Hall of Fame player who became a star broadcaster, dies at 71
Ranking
- Pregnant Kylie Kelce Shares Hilarious Question Her Daughter Asked Jason Kelce Amid Rising Fame
- Grayson Murray's Cause of Death at 30 Confirmed by His Parents
- $15 Big Macs: As inflation drives up fast food prices, map shows how they differ nationwide
- For American clergy, the burdens of their calling increasingly threaten mental well-being
- Global Warming Set the Stage for Los Angeles Fires
- See Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's Daughter Shiloh Grow Up During Rare Red Carpet Moments
- Papua New Guinea government says Friday’s landslide buried 2,000 people and formally asks for help
- Sophia Bush responds to Ashlyn Harris engagement rumors: 'The internet is being wild'
Recommendation
McKinsey to pay $650 million after advising opioid maker on how to 'turbocharge' sales
Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis and Their 2 Kids Make Rare Appearance at WNBA Game With Caitlin Clark
Lightning strike kills Colorado rancher and 34 head of cattle
4 Wisconsin teenagers killed in early morning truck crash
'Vanderpump Rules' star DJ James Kennedy arrested on domestic violence charges
Armenians, Hmong and other groups feel US race and ethnicity categories don’t represent them
Former ‘General Hospital’ actor Johnny Wactor killed in downtown Los Angeles shooting
Trump, RFK Jr. face hostile reception at Libertarian convention amid efforts to sway voters