Historical: Lions have Just been Crawnd the best NFL Traders of all time after there latest capture signature.

Historical: Lions have Just been Crawnd the best NFL Traders of all time after there latest capture signature.

At the trade deadline, the Detroit Lions acquired defensive end Za’Darius Smith to help with pass rushes.

In return for Smith and a 2026 seventh-round pick, Detroit general manager Brad Holmes gave up a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick.

After losing Marcus Davenport and Aidan Hutchinson to season-ending injuries, Detroit makes the move to add much-needed pass rush punch.

Smith will contribute a seasoned presence to the youthful bunch of edge rushers and has five sacks in nine games while playing with the Browns.

Here is an example of how major media outlets responded to the Lions’ move on the day of the trade deadline.

Sports Illustrated “The standard response, if you’re Dan Campbell and your best pass rusher is injured, would be to beg your general manager to search the NFL for a high ceiling player who can step in for Aidan Hutchinson.

In any case, the obvious response would be to win a number of important games before making a deal for Za’Darius Smith, who has a definite incentive to crush his two most recent teams before the Cleveland Browns, who are also Detroit’s division rivals.

Smith claimed that following his injury, the Packers made him “feel like a nobody.”

He wasn’t pleased with his bargain either.

The Lions’ pass rush has appeared to be lacking since standout pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson suffered a fractured leg in Week 6, so Smith comes to Detroit as a much-needed rescuer.

Smith is still a force on the outside to outrun mediocre tackles on obvious rush downs, but his greatest football is probably behind him.

This season, his pressure rate of 13.2% is the lowest it has been in three years. Naturally, since joining the Browns in 2023, he has benefited by playing opposite Myles Garrett.

He will be the center of attention in Detroit.

It’s exciting to join a club that has a chance to win the Super Bowl, but it might be more enjoyable to avoid a Browns squad that is in the midst of a multi-year makeover.

Smith’s time with the Browns was probably coming to an end because he had one year left on his contract and was a cut candidate following this season.

I wouldn’t be shocked if the Lions looked to keep him after this season, though, given that he only has $11 million in nonguaranteed money in 2025.

If the Detroit defense has learned anything from this season, it is the value of pass-rush depth, and at just 32, he can be a fine rotational rusher for the upcoming seasons.

The three-time Pro Bowl player, who has 65 career regular-season sacks, joins Detroit, possibly the finest team in the NFL, after playing for Cleveland, possibly the worst.

Despite having two Day 3 picks, Lions general manager Brad Holmes wanted someone to attempt and partially replace injured defensive end Aidan Hutchinson’s output.

The Lions, who are now slated as the No. 1 seed in the NFC, have only racked up five sacks in the three games since Hutchinson fractured his leg, and only one in the last two weeks.

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