Detroit acquired Za'Darius Smith and a 2026 seventh-round…
Detroit acquired Za'Darius Smith and a 2026 seventh-round pick from Cleveland at the 2024 deadline for 2025 fifth- and 2026 sixth-round selections. Smith gave a contender needed pass-rush help after Aidan Hutchinson's injury, while Cleveland converted a veteran into two future assets. Detroit gets the win for immediate competitive value, but Cleveland's return was meaningful enough to keep the grades close.
Cleveland Browns Received
- pick 2026 6th round pick (199th overall subsequently traded, Emmanuel Henderson )
- pick 2025 5th round pick (164th overall subsequently traded, Yahya Black )
Detroit Lions Received
- player Za'Darius Smith
- pick 2026 7th round pick (222nd overall, Tyre West )
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On November 5, 2024, Cleveland sent Za'Darius Smith plus a 2026 seventh-round selection to Detroit. The Browns received a 2025 fifth-rounder and a 2026 sixth-rounder. Detroit was 7-1 and searching for edge help after major injuries, while Cleveland was in position to convert veteran value into future draft assets.
Cleveland Browns Return
Detroit acquired Za'Darius Smith and a 2026 seventh-round pick from Cleveland at the 2024 deadline for 2025 fifth- and 2026 sixth-round selections. Smith gave a contender needed pass-rush help after Aidan Hutchinson's injury, while Cleveland converted a veteran into two future assets. Detroit gets the win for immediate competitive value, but Cleveland's return was meaningful enough to keep the grades close.
Detroit Lions Return
Cleveland moved Za'Darius Smith and a seventh-rounder to Detroit for a fifth and a sixth, a reasonable asset return for an older pass rusher. The Lions needed help immediately and received productive veteran snaps during a playoff push. Because both clubs addressed their different timelines effectively, the result favors Detroit without supporting an extreme winner-loser split.
Value in Hindsight
This is a good example of a trade that can work for both sides while still producing a winner. Cleveland received useful picks for an aging veteran, and Detroit bought needed production without surrendering premium capital. Because Smith's value was concentrated in a short competitive window, Detroit's edge is meaningful but not large enough to justify the original A- versus C- spread.
Final Verdict
The final call is Detroit Lions Win. Cleveland Browns receives a B- grade and Detroit Lions receives a B grade. The grades weigh the actual football value created after the transaction, the cost paid, the length and quality of each return, and the uncertainty that still exists in the historical evidence. The judgment stays proportional to the size of the move rather than treating a depth transaction or late pick swap like a franchise-changing blockbuster.