How much would it cost to acquire Browns DE Za’Darius Smith? NFL insider Jeremy Fowler has an idea.
One of the most popular potential trade targets for the Detroit Lions is Cleveland Browns defensive end Za’Darius Smith. The connections are easy to make. At 6-foot-4, 275 pounds, he fits the physical profile of an Aidan Hutchinson replacement, and Smith is still playing at a high level (5.0 sacks, 70.0 PFF pass rush grade). Smith has also openly said that he thinks the Lions would be a good fit.
The big question is how much he would potentially cost in a trade, and ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler offered his thoughts this week, based on his inside sources.
“Though Cleveland won’t be looking to dump core players, it could be active if the right opportunities arise,” Fowler wrote Wednesday. “A decent Day 3 pick for Smith probably will get the job done, from what I’m hearing.”
As of right now, the Lions have five Day 3 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. They have their original fourth and fifth-round picks. They have a sixth-round pick they acquired from the Buccaneers as part of the Carlton Davis trade, and two seventh-round picks—the second of which was acquired from the Cowboys when Detroit traded up to draft Terrion Arnold. (Detroit’s original sixth-round pick was sent to the Browns for Donovan Peoples-Jones.)
That gives the Lions plenty of resources to get the deal done, if desired. Detroit would also have to acquire Smith’s contract, but he’s making the league-minimum salary this year ($1.21 million) and most of his cost in 2025 is tied up in non-guaranteed roster bonuses (he only has a $1.5 million salary for next year).
The Lions have openly said that they’re scouring the market and that general manager Brad Holmes is grinding. However, at the same time coach Dan Campbell has emphasized that they aren’t going to be desperate, and they’re going to fully evaluate their in-house options to adjust for Hutchinson’s loss, as well.
“We’re still talking about it and they’re still working through it,” Campbell said Monday. “I’m not concerned, there’s other ways of creating pressure and, yeah, would you like a little more? Yeah, we’d like a little bit more. […] We’re aware and we’re still looking at it, but no, I wouldn’t say we’re in panic mode.”
