Could the Cleveland Browns trade defensive end Za’Darius Smith to the Detroit Lions?
After trading one veteran 30 years or older in wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills, the Browns may not be done. Their starting defensive end has been linked to the Lions by one former NFL general manager.
Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, former Browns general manager Mike Lombardi stated Cooper may not be the only player to be shipped out of Cleveland. He mentions Smith to the Lions, who just lost All-Pro defensive end Aidan Hutchinson for the season.
“Cleveland is gonna have a for sale sign and Za’Darius Smith could be going to the Lions..
If they lose this game to the Bengals they should just start getting ready for next year”@mlombardiNFL #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/Tw9H90g4n1
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 17, 2024
The Browns are not in a rebuild, but they will look to retool. This means no cornerstone players like Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward, or David Njoku will be traded. It does mean, however, that players on the wrong side of 30 with limited years left on their contracts may be on the chopping block.
Smith fits that description.
