The Detroit Lions are acquiring three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Za’Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns prior to the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday, multiple media outlets reported.
In addition to Smith, the Lions are receiving a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Browns, in turn, are acquiring a fifth-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft and a sixth-round pick in 2026.
The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.
A winner of six consecutive games, NFC North-leading Detroit (7-1) is looking to bolster its pass rush to make up for losing defensive end Aidan Hutchinson to a broken tibia and fibula in his left leg last month. Hutchinson was leading the NFL with 7.5 sacks at the time of his injury.
Smith, 32, has recorded five sacks to go along with 23 tackles in nine games (all starts) this season.
A Pro Bowl selection in 2019, 2020 and 2022, Smith has totaled 65 sacks, 321 tackles and 10 forced fumbles in 132 career games (89 starts) with the Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and Browns.
The AFC North cellar-dwelling Browns (2-7) traded Pro Bowl wide receiver Amari Cooper and a sixth-round pick of the 2025 NFL Draft to the Buffalo Bills last month for a third-round selection in 2025 and a seventh-round pick in 2026.
Also Tuesday, NFL Network reported that Cleveland was releasing veteran defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson.
Jefferson, 31, has appeared in five games (no starts) in his first season with the Browns, collecting six tackles and one sack.
Jefferson has 198 tackles, 27.5 sacks, 79 quarterback hits and four fumble recoveries in 108 games (62 starts) with the Seattle Seahawks (2016-19, 2022), Bills (2020), Las Vegas Raiders (2021), New York Jets (2023) and Browns.
