The Detroit Lions added the passer they’ve been missing since Aidan Hutchinson broke his leg in Week 6, reportedly acquired veteran Za’Darius Smith of the Cleveland Browns.
In exchange for Smith, the Lions reportedly sent a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick to Cleveland, while Cleveland would send Smith and a 2026 seventh-round pick. Smith was among the most in demand as of trade limit with the NFL and is under contract until the 2025 seasonreflecting what the Lions had to trade up to get it.
Smith had five sacks in nine games with the Browns this season with 23 tackles, five tackles for loss and six quarterback hits. During his NFL career, Smith compiled 65 sacks in 181 games (88 starts) over 10 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and Browns.
Despite a blowout 52-14 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 8, the Lions struggled to put pressure on quarterback Mason Rudolph. Detroit managed just one sack in the second quarter. In Week 9’s 24-14 win over the Packers, the Lions generated only occasional pressure on Jordan Love and recorded no sacks. Both games highlighted what the defense is missing with Hutchinson’s absence.
Hutchinson suffered a fractured right tibia and fibula early in the third quarter of Detroit’s 47-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6. Before his season-ending injury, Hutchinson led the NFL with 7 1 /2 bags. Alim McNeill has the second-highest total on the Lions defense with 2 1/2 sacks. No other Detroit player has more than two sacks.
Earlier this season, the Lions also lost defensive end Marcus Davenport in Week 3 with what is being called a “serious and meaningful” left elbow injury. Additionally, linebacker Derrick Barnes suffered a knee injury in that same game against the Arizona Cardinals. Detroit coach Dan Campbell did not say the injuries end of the season, but was not optimistic about the return of either player.
