Za’Darius Smith is open to a transfer to the Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions are considered a team that could actively participate in the trade market ahead of the NFL’s Nov. 5 deadline.

After losing both defensive starters Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport to season-ending injuries, the Lions could move up at the position. The loss of Hutchinson is particularly devastating since he played at Defensive Player of the Year level in five games.

With the position losing depth, the Lions are tied to several interesting names that could be available on the trade market. One of those players is Cleveland Browns defenseman Za’Darius Smith.

With the Browns stuck with a 1-5 start to the season, they could look to make moves to replenish draft capital. With the Lions in need of position improvement and the Browns potentially looking to rebuild, trading for Smith could be a logical solution for both parties.

Smith was asked about a possible trade with the Lions during an interview with The Chronicle-Telegram and expressed openness to the idea. Part of his motivation comes from the fact that he previously played for the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings, both of which play in the same division as Detroit.

“It’s a shame that an injury happened to (Hutchinson), a guy who was on his way to potentially being Defensive Player of the Year. This is a great loss for them,” Smith said. “But if I went to Detroit, I would like it because I get to play Green Bay twice a year and the Vikings twice a year. So, yeah, it’s going to be big.”

Smith, 32, has three sacks in six games this season. He has played for four teams in his career and entered the league as a fourth-round draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2015. He spent three seasons with Green Bay, from 2019-21, and then one year with Minnesota in 2022.

The veteran was traded to the Browns in May 2023. He signed a two-year, $23.5 million contract extension before this season and is under contract through 2025. He was selected to three Pro Bowls and was a second-team Associated Press All-Pro selection in 2020.