Cleveland Browns edge defender Za’Darius Smith is one of the biggest names on the trade market, but he could soon be a Detroit Lion. A fourth-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Kentucky product immediately outplayed his draft capital while recording 5.5 sacks as a rookie. Thriving in a part-time role, Smith proved he can be a full-time weapon with the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings. Now with the Browns, the three-time Pro Bowler has recorded five sacks through eight games and should fetch a decent return in a trade.
Jameis Winston makes the Browns competitive, but it’s too little, too late. Deshaun Watson’s atrocious play singlehandedly wasted the season, leaving the team with no shot of making the playoffs. With a rebuild inevitable, the team could trade Za’Darius Smith to the Detroit Lions. Head coach Dan Campbell hinted at a major move coming in the next 24 hours, but he’ll need to outbid the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers for his services.
Question: “Do you feel there’s anything imminent on the trade front in the next 24 hours?”
Dan Campbell: “Yeah, could be.”
Question: “No, seriously…”
Campbell: “Could be.” pic.twitter.com/4g8Hgc1N3b
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) October 28, 2024
Dan Campbell’s Comments Suggest A Za’Darius Smith Trade Is Coming
At 6-1, the Detroit Lions are one of the league’s elite teams and have strong odds of finally hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in February. However, their chances of winning it all took a major hit when superstar pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson suffered a season-ending injury. Hutchinson played like a Defensive Player of the Year prior to his injury, and there are only two or three pass rushers in the league capable of matching his production. Za’Darius Smith is not one of those players, but the 32-year-old is probably the best option on the trade market.
After narrowly missing the Super Bowl in 2023, the Detroit Lions are better than ever. Led by a high-octane offense and an opportunistic defense, Dan Campbell’s squad must go all-in on the 2024 season. Za’Darius Smith would easily be the best pass rusher on this roster, and the trade target should rack up numbers facing offenses that will need to pass early and often to keep up with the Lions offense. While Smith would be a perfect fit for this team, the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers could also fight for his services.
Other Suitors
The Baltimore Ravens are arguably the best team in the AFC, but Week 8’s loss to the Browns showed this team is far from perfect. Lamar Jackson played a great game, but it didn’t matter since Jameis Winston effortlessly moved the ball against Baltimore’s defense. Kyle Van Noy and former first-round pick Odafe Oweh are doing a good job of getting after the quarterback, but they need a third reliable option. While a trade within the AFC North is rare, the Browns could make an exception with Za’Darius Smith, since the pass rusher’s contract expires after the season.
Khalil Mack continues to defy age, but the same cannot be said for Chargers pass rusher Joey Bosa. The former first-round pick continues to battle injury, as he re-aggravated what he called the most painful injury of his career during the team’s win over the New Orleans Saints. The human body can only handle so much, and Los Angeles should plan for life without Bosa. Head coach Jim Harbaugh wants to win with defense, and pairing a great pass rusher like Za’Darius Smith with Khalil Mack should create one of the league’s better pass rushes.
Main Photo: Jeff Lange – USA Today Sports
