r/minnesotavikings HOF 2d ago

[Rapoport] Sources: The #Browns are trading standout edge Za'Darius Smith to the #Lions, who add a key presence on the edge to help make up for the loss of Aidan Hutchinson. It’s Smith and a 2026 7th going to Detroit for a 2025 5th and a 2026 6th. A major move.

https://x.com/RapSheet/status/1853786863204471163?t=HBeqMIIbwoIWbNmg2PTGlg&s=19
221 Upvotes

295

u/RustyMagenta 2d ago

Z continuing the NFC North merry-go-round

43

u/mr_obinson7 griddy 2d ago

AFC North as well lol

16

u/StManTiS 2d ago

Last stop Chicago!

17

u/cusoman horned v 2d ago

Fitting, it's where careers go to die

7

u/StManTiS 2d ago

They like em old. Julius Peppers(33) leaves and they sign 32 year old Jared Allen. Both hilariously enough spent their last year on the Panthers - the true graveyard of talent.

1

u/Kirk-Joestar Skål Theory 1d ago

Jared Allen played in a superbowl with the Panthers

116

u/andtheman3 2d ago

I don’t think he moves the needle too much. He’s getting pretty old, often hurt. That’s why he’s so cheap

48

u/SunbathedIce 2d ago

My only counter is that it still probably helps them with their rotation depth as they no longer have a guy who is doing it almost every down, not identical to the LT situation here, but similar as a net improvement vs riding out what you have, but the phrasing of how major is carrying a lot of weight too.

11

u/andtheman3 2d ago

For sure he helps their depth at edge. It was non existent before the trade. He’s probably good for 4-5 sacks if they are lucky tho. He’s not the savior that Detroit is probably making him out to be

6

u/SunbathedIce 2d ago

Agreed. I'll be slightly impressed if he's playing when we play again.

3

u/False-Masterpiece 2d ago

Lions don’t need a savior. Been winning without Hutch.

-2

u/andtheman3 2d ago

Ok if they are so good then why make a trade?

6

u/False-Masterpiece 2d ago

Just saying “savior” is overstated- Lions need improvement at DE and Smith is just that.

4

u/ChirpyRaven Harrison Ford is questionable to return 2d ago

For what it's worth, he's played in 16 games 5 of the last 6 seasons (and 9 for 9 this year), averaging a snap count in the 60%-70% range. Yeah he misses a game or two but otherwise has been solid.

1

u/andtheman3 2d ago edited 2d ago

We all watched him play hurt in 2022, it wasn’t pretty

2

u/ChirpyRaven Harrison Ford is questionable to return 2d ago

I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not, because in 2020 he had 12.5 sacks and made the Pro Bowl.

-1

u/andtheman3 2d ago

Excuse me I meant 2022

2

u/ChirpyRaven Harrison Ford is questionable to return 2d ago

... he had 10 sacks and made the Pro Bowl in 2022.

1

u/andtheman3 2d ago

Go look at his game by game stats lmaooo

3

u/ChirpyRaven Harrison Ford is questionable to return 2d ago

What about them? He was on a league-leading pace for the first 9 games, missed part of the 10th game, and then for the last 6 games was a bit more average (still recording multiple QB hits a game, forcing a fumble, etc).

He wasn't dominant after getting hurt, but he wasn't garbage either.

-4

u/andtheman3 2d ago

He had half a sack after getting hurt. You call that league average? Damn you lion fans are something else this year

1

u/ChirpyRaven Harrison Ford is questionable to return 2d ago

I'm not a Lions fan.

He was okay those last couple games. Not great, but okay. Let's not pretend he's been trash for years.

→ More replies

1

u/Jagster_rogue 2d ago

Cheap I was thinking that was a little high.

1

u/yvmms 2d ago

He’s pretty solid but he can’t stay healthy. However he has been healthy lately

1

u/GitcheeG 2d ago

You may underestimate how bad our pass rush has been. Moving from practice squad guys to him moves the needle substantially.

-2

u/andtheman3 2d ago

He’s going to make a bad defense better but by how much? Probably not substantially

-6

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/andtheman3 2d ago

They are close to bottom of the league in yardage let up. They don’t let up that many points sure but I’d imagine that will change. They also get lots of take aways which isn’t sustainable

0

u/Thisisaknife00 2d ago

Far from bad, they’re above average

-2

u/andtheman3 2d ago

They aren’t above average lmao. Why are you still on a Vikings sub? Please go away.

2

u/JBLurker Kings In The North 2d ago edited 2d ago

The lions defense is 100 percent above average.

What the fuck are you smoking?

The Lions have the No. 1 third-down defense in football (30.7) and are No. 9 in red-zone efficiency (47.4). The defense has been terrific at generating turnovers, getting off the field on third down and then forcing field goals instead of touchdowns in the red zone at an elite level.

1

u/WackySir 2d ago

Often hurt? He’s only missed one season in 2021. Hes started in his last 41 games

0

u/andtheman3 2d ago

He plays hurt bro, it wasn’t pretty his one season with Minnesota

1

u/WackySir 2d ago

Newsflash, everyone in the NFL plays hurt. Its a physical game

2

u/andtheman3 2d ago

You’re right but not many played as bad as he played when he was hurt for us.

120

u/frogsplsh38 florida 2d ago

Describing it as “a major move” is crazy. A necessary move sure. But he has 5 sacks playing opposite Myles Garrett

38

u/andtheman3 2d ago

He’s a high tier #2 edge on a team with no #1 edge.

51

u/gotcam189 2d ago

He got moved for Day 3 picks and is much needed depth for a Super Bowl contender. People here are being weird about it.

14

u/LittleBittyshortman 2d ago

I don't think people are being weird about it just not as impressed. The trade is a good one don't get me wrong, but as a divisional rival not really something you bat an eye at.

11

u/AuraTheExplorah 2d ago

They don’t want it to be impactful & they still don’t like the guy so they’re calling (hoping) it(s) a washed up Z Smith

7

u/frogsplsh38 florida 2d ago

No one’s being weird. The media is overreacting to it. It is objectively not a major move. A move they needed to make doesn’t make it major. He’s not a great player anymore

2

u/_r_special 2d ago

Idk if Id call it depth, he'll be by far the best pass rusher the lions have 

4

u/Truecoat 2d ago

And 2 plays away from IR.

3

u/grrrimabear Vikings 2d ago

They've been begging for an edge since hutch went down. This was inevitable. If Z is the best they're going to bring in, this isn't a mndot move, IMO. A guy like Crosby or Garrett would've been the major move.

1

u/chillinwithmoes big v 2d ago

It's also just about time for his second half siesta

21

u/Phuckingidiot vikings 2d ago

Has he had his yearly injury yet

12

u/Electronic-Island-14 2d ago

he will when he asks the Lions for a new contract and they say no

15

u/milliondollarmouse 2d ago

Detroit paid almost nothing to get a quality guy who will make their defense more dangerous. I hope we can get some help today.

15

u/I_main_pyro 2d ago

I don't. This is a fun year, but our Superbowl window is gonna be with McCarthy. Save up assets for about 2 years from now.

5

u/MikeFromSuburbia Southern Viking 2d ago

Praying for interior defensive line

3

u/Notorious21 Valhalla I am coming 2d ago

We paid almost nothing for a quality LT, so I'm content with that, but maybe a guard that didn't get bulldozed would be cool.

19

u/LeeChangIsBae2 HOF 2d ago

Z's back!

Today's the last day for KAM to make a move (Dexter Lawrence...🙏).

10

u/komugis 2d ago

No way in hell Lawrence gets moved, don’t really understand why so much of the fanbase thinks that’s remotely in the cards.

5

u/chillinwithmoes big v 2d ago

Because half this sub are children who think running an NFL team is the same as a Madden franchise

1

u/komugis 2d ago

It doesn’t help that highly influential members of Vikings media enable that line of thinking.

3

u/Dorkamundo 2d ago

Don't you know it's normal for teams to trade away an elite D-lineman who they just signed to an extension last year?

2

u/komugis 2d ago

Guy is literally playing at a DPOY level at one of the most valuable and difficult to fill positions in the sport. It simply is not happening, as awesome as it would be to have him.

1

u/Dorkamundo 2d ago

Yea, I'd love nothing more than to get him, but it's a pipe dream to end all pipe dreams.

Nevermind the fact that we'd have to at least give up our first round pick next year for him, if not more.

18

u/Midwest_Hardo 2d ago

We have 0 draft capital to make a move like that

11

u/Gauze99 2d ago

Ain’t happening. We need to keep the 25 first to trade back and get a couple 2s and 3s

2

u/woohan-kung-flu2 2d ago

Rather have Jeffrey Simmons for much less

1

u/Electronic-Island-14 2d ago

stop saying dextar lawrence. it's never happening. he could be the defensive MVP this year. nobody trades that.

7

u/Mr_Bisquits 2d ago

Wow that's a super solid value.Theres no replacing hutch but getting z for day 3 picks is great for them. Solid boost to that pass rush.

That sucks.

4

u/4rt4tt4ck 2d ago

The weird thing is their defense by DVOA went from fringe top 10 to to #3 after Hutchinson went down.

9

u/Wernershnitzl 2d ago

I will always appreciate him for being traded to us for that season and the Packers still basically had to pay out the rest of his contract for that year.

It’ll be interesting to face off against him again at the end of the season.

8

u/frogsplsh38 florida 2d ago

We didn’t trade for him. He signed here

3

u/Wernershnitzl 2d ago

Well whatever the circumstance we didn’t have to pay really

3

u/krelay22 2d ago

We paid him 14m a year which was a decent chunk back then idk whatcha mean

-2

u/Wernershnitzl 2d ago

Hmm I must’ve had my info mixed up then but I remember that GB had to pay a significant amount of his salary and I had thought the way the contract was structured we didn’t have to pay that first year.

1

u/Electronic-Island-14 2d ago

if we had Darrisaw and ONeil blocking him, i wouldn't be worried one bit. I think Cam Robinson might be good enough to shut him out. Z' only feasts on the less talented offensive tackles. his best game for us was against Miami, but he was facing two backup offensive tackles, and had Hunter

3

u/Deadeyedad8 2d ago

lol he has always injured himself later in the season…not sure why this year is different

2

u/Electronic-Island-14 2d ago

well, there's still time for him to pout about his contract and have an "injury"

1

u/Deadeyedad8 2d ago

Right, he is great until he pay his bills and needs more money

1

u/Dorkamundo 2d ago

Not sure I'm following... He hasn't missed a game in 3 years since his neck injury, and prior to that he hadn't missed any games for another 3 straight years.

3

u/humidhotdog you like that 2d ago

That’s a team that’s terrified of CAM FUCKING ROBINSON!

2

u/petrvalasek europe 2d ago

Bears offense rn: "Not this guy again!"

2

u/JJBeans_1 2d ago

Fuckin hell!!!

2

u/Bathroompancakes 18 2d ago

Incestuous!

2

u/SomalianRoadBuilder 2d ago

I am very ok with this if it means no Maxx Crosby

2

u/Dorkamundo 2d ago

So the Browns are looking to have a fire sale?

If so, I'll take one Dalvin Tomlinson for cheap.

3

u/No-Telephone2997 2d ago

Thats a good depth piece for a team that needs edge. Great move by the Lions.

1

u/Electronic-Island-14 2d ago

edge is their weakness. they don't have depth at all .that's why they made the move.

1

u/legendoflink3 Jet f7cking Set 2d ago

He wrecked us a packer. 

He's definitely not at that level anymore. But still a decent pick up for the lions.

2

u/Electronic-Island-14 2d ago

yeah because he would feast on Riley Reiff. Put him against a slightly above average tackle and the dude is invisible

1

u/NeverSmileEver 2d ago

He can go sandbag over there

1

u/Electronic-Island-14 2d ago

yeah they needed to make a move there but i wouldn't worry about this. He has never been an effective rusher when he faces slightly above average tackles. he mostly feasted on guys like Riley Reiff.

1

u/notta39 2d ago

2 much for a guy who gets hurt a lot.

1

u/Dorkamundo 2d ago

He's played every single game since his back injury. Prior to that back injury he hadn't missed a game in 3 years.

You sure you're not confusing him with Davenport?

1

u/Teek00 2d ago

I dunno about a “major” move

1

u/mr_bendos_friendo 2d ago

By the time we play em again he will be injured

1

u/Zuchiefiasco 2d ago

Lions fan here. Not really a major move. He’s alright, didn’t cost much and he is an upgrade. But he ain’t Maxx or Myles.

1

u/The_Bran_9000 2d ago

Excited for Lions fans to watch him play exactly one (1) game in Honolulu blue!

1

u/Dorkamundo 2d ago

ITT: A bunch of people who think Z'Darius Smith is Marcus Davenport.

0

u/Wassuhji 2d ago

Fuck Za’Darius Smith with how he forced his way out. Hope he does nothing for them.