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Detroit Lions acquire Za'Darius Smith in trade with Cleveland Browns to bolster pass rush
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- Detroit Lions acquire Za'Darius Smith in trade with Cleveland Browns to bolster pass rush
Help is on the way for the Detroit Lions ' injury-depleted defensive line.
The Lions acquired Za'Darius Smith a trade with the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday, adding a veteran pass rusher to their defense just a few hours before Tuesday's 2024 NFL trade deadline.
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The Lions sent the Browns a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick in return for Smith and 2026 seventh-round pick, the Free Press has confirmed.
Oct 27, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) sacks Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) during the second half at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
The Lions (7-1) have won six straight and sit atop the NFC , but have struggled to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks since Aidan Hutchinson broke the tibia and fibula in his left leg in a Week 6 win over the Dallas Cowboys .
Hutchinson, who led the NFL with 7½ sacks at the time of his injury, is out four to six months but could return if the Lions make the Super Bowl .
The Lions, who also have lost starting defensive end Marcus Davenport and strongside linebacker Derrick Barnes to potential season-ending injuries , have cobbled together a pass rush in wins the past three weeks against the Minnesota Vikings , Tennessee Titans and Green Bay Packers .
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They had four sacks against the Vikings — one by defensive end Josh Paschal as an unblocked rusher and one apiece by linebackers Malcolm Rodriguez , Jack Campbell and Trevor Nowaske — and another (by linebacker Alex Anzalone on an unblocked rush) against the Titans, but did not sack Packers quarterback Jordan Love in 39 pass attempts Sunday.
Along with Paschal's sack, the Lions have just five other quarterback hits by defensive linemen the past two games: D.J. Reader had one on Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold , Levi Onwuzurike (two) and James Houston (one) had hits on Titans QB Mason Rudolph , and Alim McNeill had one on Love.
Smith should add immediate help to a pass rush that ranked 16th in the NFL in sack percentage (7.5%) entering the week.
Smith previously played for the Baltimore Ravens , Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings, and said earlier this fall he was intrigued by the thought of joining the Lions.
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"I'm staying positive, but now that you say that (about trade rumors to the Lions), it might be a good look, a good feel for me," Smith told the Chronicle-Telegram after Hutchinson's injury .
The Lions spent the past three weeks canvassing the NFL for defensive help, but found few teams willing to part with capable pass rushers.
The entered the week with seven picks in next year's draft. They traded their 2025 third-rounder to move up and select offensive tackle Gio Manu in April's draft, but had an extra seventh-rounder they acquired as part of their deal to go up and draft cornerback Terrion Arnold .
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"We talk about Hutch, we're not going to be able to replace Hutch but there's other things that we can do and you put a bigger burden on your back end is what you've got to do and we've done that," Campbell said. "They've risen to the challenge. Has it been perfect, no, but we are getting takeaways, which is huge, and when your special teams plays (like it did against the Titans) and your offense, then it all collectively, man, we played pretty good."
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com . Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett .
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions acquire Za'Darius Smith in trade with Browns
