Za'Darius Smith is back in the NFC North after being traded to the Super Bowl-contending Detroit Lions.
You must have an active subscription to read this story.
Click Here to subscribe Now!
Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Even in their bye week, the Browns fell behind their division rivals.
Comfortably ahead in the standings, the Steelers (6-2), Ravens (6-3) and Bengals (4-5) each got better by adding players ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline.
The last-place Browns (2-7) were the only team to trade a player.
So it’s officially “wait ‘til next year” mode in CrossCountry Mortgage campus.
Actually, it’s been that way since the Browns traded receiver Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills on October 15 for a 2025 third-round pick.
The big winner on Tuesday, perhaps league-wide, was Browns defensive end Za’Darius Smith.
The left-side complement to Myles Garrett, who was second on the team to Garrett’s seven sacks with five, was granted his wish and traded to the Super Bowl-contending Detroit Lions. Smith previously played four seasons in the NFC North division – three with Green Bay and one with Minnesota.
The trade was not a surprise to anyone except Garrett, who on Friday insisted, “I’m going to continue to play with Z,” when asked about potentially losing him before the deadline.
The Browns tossed in their seventh-round pick in 2026 and still were only able to receive in return Detroit’s fifth-round pick in 2025 and sixth-round pick in 2026.
That’s a pittance of cost to the Lions, who were desperate to fill their pass-rush void left when star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson suffered a broken fibula and tibia in a Week 6 game. Smith was considered the best pass rusher available and can be a valuable addition to the team with the best record (7-1) in the NFC.
The trade increased GM Andrew Berry’s draft stockpile in 2025 to nine picks. Currently the Browns own:
* Their own picks in Rounds 1-4 and Round 6.
* Buffalo’s pick in Round 3.
* Detroit’s pick in Round 5.
* Chicago’s pick in Round 6.
* Minnesota’s pick in Round 6.
Berry has concentrated on acquiring extra picks because he’ll need to replace higher-priced veterans with minimum-salaried rookies as a result of kicking salary cap charges down the road for several players, notably Deshaun Watson.
In other words, it’s time to start digging out from under the salary cap mess caused by Watson’s fully guaranteed, $230 million contract.
While the Browns virtually gave away one of their starting defensive players, and also terminated the contract of underachieving veteran defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson, their rivals beefed up their rosters for the stretch run to the playoffs.
* Pittsburgh added receiver Green Bay edge rusher Preston Smith and Jets receiver Mike Williams for 2025 seventh- and fifth-round picks, respectively.
* Baltimore added Rams cornerback Tra’Davious White for a swap of future seventh-round picks.
* Cincinnati added Chicago running back Khalil Herbert for a 2025 seventh-round pick.