Help is on the way for Detroit’s defensive line and pass rush.
The Lions agreed to terms to acquire DL Za’Darius Smith in a trade with the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday, adding a veteran pass rusher to their defense before the 4 p.m. trade deadline.
The Lions will send the Browns a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick in return for Smith and a 2026 seventh-round pick.
The Lions (7-1) are the top team in the NFC and have won six straight games but have struggled to get consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks ever since DPOY candidate Aidan Hutchinson suffered a broken leg in Dallas Week 6. The Lions also have lost starting defensive end Marcus Davenport and SAM linebacker Derrick Barnes to long-term injuries that have cut into their pass rush production.
Smith, 32, has compiled five sacks in nine games this season for Cleveland and has 20 quarterback hurries. He’s played for Baltimore, Green Bay and Minnesota before a stop in Cleveland the last two seasons. He had double-digit sack seasons in Green Bay (2019 & 2020) and in Minnesota (2022).
Smith (6-4, 270) can also set the edge and take on double teams in the run game, which is a prerequisite to play significant snaps in Aaron Glenn’s defense in Detroit. He has the size and skillset to be an important player for the Lions’ run defense.
It’s unclear how quickly the Lions can get Smith acclimated with the scheme and into the lineup, but the Lions face a Houston team Sunday night that’s tied for the second most sacks allowed this season (31).
“Well, you’ve seen that with what we have right now with Isaiah (Thomas) and (Al-Quadin) Muhammad. So, a lot of those guys play the first week that they’re in. Especially if we can find packages to put those guys in,” Glenn said last week when asked how quickly he could potentially get a new player up to speed.
“So, I’m going to look at it from an aspect of, this is the NFL and each week you might play a new player. Then during the game, you might play a new player.”
With Smith now in the fold, and hopefully the return of Josh Paschal after he’s missed two games with an illness, Detroit’s pass rush will look to affect opposing quarterbacks more consistently moving forward.
