The Cleveland Browns have made a move to strengthen their defense, acquiring three-time Pro Bowl pass-rusher Za’Darius Smith in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings. As part of the deal, Minnesota will receive two fifth-round picks in 2024 and 2025, while Cleveland will receive a 2025 sixth-round pick and a 2025 seventh-rounder.
Smith, who had 10 sacks with the Vikings in 2022, will join forces with All-Pro Myles Garrett to form one of the most potent pass-rushing tandems in the NFL. ESPN Stats & Information research shows that Smith is one of only five players to record 10 or more sacks in three of the past four seasons, with Garrett being one of the other four.
Smith Brings Experience and Skill to Cleveland’s Defensive Line
At 30 years old, Smith is a seasoned veteran who has proven his worth on the field. He enjoyed two consecutive Pro Bowl seasons with the Green Bay Packers in 2019 and 2020, during which he recorded a combined 26 sacks. He signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Vikings last year, and although he had a strong start to the season with 8.5 sacks in the first seven weeks, a chronic knee injury hampered his performance in the latter half of the regular season.
Despite the injury setback, Smith’s talent and experience make him a valuable addition to the Browns’ defense. The team has already made several other moves to shore up their defense this offseason, including signing veteran defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson, safety Juan Thornhill, and defensive end Ogbonnia Okoronkwo. With Smith and Garrett leading the charge, the Browns will look to make a strong push for the playoffs in the upcoming season.
The trade agreement was first reported by the NFL Network, and the deal is expected to be finalized pending physicals.
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