Smith joins a Detroit team in need of an edge rusher. The NFC-leading Lions (7-1) have been hunting for one since losing Aidan Hutchinson to tibia and fibula fractures on Oct. 13 that will sideline him for the rest of the regular season.

The Cleveland Browns needed draft assets. Cleveland’s 2024 was declared a write-off somewhere around the moment the franchise traded for Deshaun Watson, even if we didn’t know it at the time. At 2-7, the hopes of repeating last season’s playoff appearance had been effectively distinguished.

With their season in shambles, the Browns began looking toward the future and traded defensive end Za'Darius Smith to Detroit for a pair of draft picks.