Dan Campbell doesn't have to answer for the Detroit Lions' trade deadline plans anymore.
Hours ahead of the NFL's cutoff for moves on Tuesday, the Lions agreed to acquire defensive end Za'Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns. According to multiple reports, Smith and a 2026 seventh-round draft pick will go to the Lions, who in turn will receive a 2025 fifth-round draft pick and a 2026 sixth-round draft pick.
The move addresses a void that had stood for Detroit ever since Aidan Hutchinson suffered a broken tibia and fibula three weeks ago. The Pro Bowl defensive end was leading the NFL in sacks at the time, and his injury left Detroit perilously thin at a key position. Cleveland, meanwhile, continued to offload after earlier dealing Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills.
With the 7-1 Lions off to their best start since 1956 and looking like a legitimate threat to make their first Super Bowl appearance, adding a starter at defensive end to replace Hutchinson was essentially a necessity for Brad Holmes. In Smith, 32, he found likely the best option on the market as far as a short-term fix for this team. The three-time Pro Bowl selection shouldn't be expected to reach the same heights Hutchinson did in what was looking like an NFL Defensive Player of the Year campaign – his 7 ½ sacks still account for 37.5% of the team's production in that category – but replacing his impact and production was never on the table. Smith, who has five sacks this year, should provide a good bit of pressure while still satisfying Campbell's demand to remain stout against the run. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn likely will still need to be creative in dialing up blitzes to help this front four – Detroit ranks sixth in blitz rate on the season at 29.8%, according to Pro Football Reference – but it's hard to beat this price and payoff.
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For one of the best players still available on deadline day, this seems like a relatively meager return. Maybe there weren't enough other bidders for a half-season rental, but it's hard to believe that a proven product at a premium position wouldn't generate more interest as other teams gear up for a playoff push. Regardless, moving on from Smith was the right move for a franchise that needs to do some serious restocking in the draft given the drain that the Deshaun Watson trade created for its young talent.
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