CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Cleveland Browns traded defensive end Za’Darius Smith to the Detroit Lions Tuesday morning, hours before the NFL's trade deadline.
The team also terminated the contract of defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson.
The Browns will receive a 2025 fifth-round and 2026 sixth-round pick while also sending Detroit a 2026 seventh-round pick.
Cleveland acquired Smith from the Vikings prior to the 2023 season for a 2025 sixth round pick and a 2025 seventh round pick while sending the Vikings a 2024 fifth round pick and a 2025 fifth round pick to pair opposite of Myles Garrett.
Garrett won Defensive Player of the Year in 2023 and the Browns finished 11-6 and made the playoffs while Smith registered 5.5 sacks, 20 QB hits, eight tackles-for-loss, three batted passes and a forced fumble.
This year Smith has been off to a hot start with 5.0 sacks, seven QB hits and six tackles-for-loss.
The Lions have been searching for pass rush help since losing Aiden Hutchinson to a broken leg last month.
Last month the Browns traded receiver Amari Cooper and a 2025 sixth-round pick to the Bills for a 2025 third-round and 2026 seventh-round pick.
Jefferson, who appeared in five games where he recorded six tackles and a sack, had been a healthy game day scratch in recent weeks.
Next April, the Browns currently have their picks in the first four rounds of the NFL draft and round six along with an extra third rounder from Buffalo from the Amari Cooper trade as well as a pair of sixth-rounders from Minnesota (Smith trade) and Chicago (Chris Williams trade).
