CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Cleveland Browns completed the trade with the Minnesota Vikings for three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Za’Darius Smith Tuesday morning.
The two teams agreed to the trade that will see Cleveland get Smith as well as sixth and seventh round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft for fifth round picks in the 2024 and 2025 Drafts Friday evening.
Smith also reworked his contract as part of the trade to a one-year deal worth around $11.75 million that allows him to become a free agent again next March.
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Smith signed his new contract and passed his physical Tuesday morning.
“Cleveland, this is Za’Darius Smith, man, I’m so happy to be a Brown,” Smith said in a video posted on the Browns social media accounts. “Can’t wait to get started. Rule number one, the first thing we gotta do is take the division and after that we’re gonna go to the playoffs, baby.”
The Browns have never won the AFC North since its inception in 2002 and the last time the franchise won a division title was 1989.
The 30-year-old is coming off his only season with Minnesota that saw him register 10 sacks, 24 QB hits, 15 tackles for loss, five pass breakups and a forced fumble in 16 games – all starts – for the Vikings in 2022.
Over eight seasons combined with the Ravens, Packers and Vikings Smith has racked up 54.5 sacks, 86 QB hits, 68 tackles for loss, nine forced fumbles, a pair of fumble recoveries and 12 pass breakups.
The acquisition of Smith by Berry completes a defensive overhaul this offseason by executive vice president of football operations and general manager Andrew Berry for new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
Cleveland signed three key pieces for the defense in free agency this offseason – defensive end Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson and safety Juan Thornhill.
Now Schwartz gets to pair Smith, who has registered double digit sacks seasons three times in the last four years, opposite of four-time Pro Bowler Myles Garrett, who is coming off single season franchise record setting 16 sack campaigns the last two years.