The 7-1 Detroit Lions have addressed their dearth of defensive ends with a major deadline move.
The Cleveland Browns are sending Za’Darius Smith and a seventh-round pick in 2026 to the Lions for fifth-round selection in 2025 and a sixth rounder in 2026, DailyMail.com has confirmed. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was the first to report the deal.
The 32-year-old Smith has five sacks in eight games this season and would go a long way towards replacing injured Pro-Bowl selection Aidan Hutchinson, who broke both his tibia and fibula in Week 6.
Other injured defensive lineman include Brodric Martin (knee), Joshua Paschal (illness) and Mekhi Wingo (ankle), all of whom were sidelined for Sunday’s win over the rival Green Bay Packers.
Depending on who returns for Wednesday’s practice, the Lions could have a dramatically different depth chart entering Sunday night’s game against the Houston Texans.
The Browns are sending Za’Darius Smith to the Lions for two late-round draft picks
Detroit Lions defensive star Aidan Hutchinson suffered a horrific broken leg 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 anybody in the league,’ coach Dan Campbell said Monday after the Lions improved to 7-1 for the first time since 1956.
