The Detroit Lions waited and waited to get the perfect Aidan Hutchinson replacement, and they got him. Hutchinson is out for the regular season with an injury, so the Lions have been pinch-hitting for the past few weeks, trying to stay strong on defense. Now, on November 5, just hours ahead of the NFL’s 4 p.m. Eastern trade deadline, a deal has gone through.

The Lions have signed Cleveland Browns defensive end Za’Darius Smith.


Za’Darius Smith to the Detroit Lions

The NFL confirmed the news of Smith going to the Motor City early November 5. It wasn’t a surprise at all. In fact, for weeks, it was expected that the Lions would make this move.

Earlier this week, NFL insider Mike Florio said he was sure the Lions were close to a deal to get Smith.

“Yes, the Lions and Browns have discussed a potential trade for defensive end Za’Darius Smith,” Florio wrote. “At this point, the expectation is that it’ll be more than talk. Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the current expectation is that Smith will be traded to Detroit tonight or tomorrow.”

Many in the NFL thought the same thing. During an appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show” Monday, November 4, NFL insider Adam Schefter also talked about the talks to bring Smith to the Motor City.

“We’ll use Za’Darius Smith. Do I think the Lions and Browns have had significant talks? Yeah. Do I think they have agreed on compensation? No. I think they’re still arguing about that,” Schefter said. “Could there be another team that steps in? Yes. Do I think, ultimately, the Browns and Lions will figure out a way to get it done? I do.”

He continued, “But things change, you never know. But I think there have been enough conversations. You can go on with almost every player. Teams are checking in on all these guys. ‘Hey, any interest in this? No? Yes?’ There are always teams checking in, just to kind of get a feel because they don’t want to miss a way to try to upgrade their roster, whether they’re acquiring a player or draft pick compensation. We could look at the teams right now with two wins and say would any of those teams be in the market to move on and trade some players to get draft pick compensation? You know the winning teams want to upgrade.”

He concluded that it’s “where we’re at, with teams continuing to check in with one another.”


As for Maxx Crosby of the Raiders

For those Lions fans who are still holding out hope for Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby to get traded to the Lions, it’s not looking likely.

As Albert Breer from Sports Illustrated reports, “The Raiders have already moved Davante Adams, and have told teams they’ll listen to offers, but they aren’t actively shopping anyone. I’d be surprised if they moved Crosby, who’s the only guy left from the locker-room-leadership troika (Adams and Josh Jacobs were the other two) that owner Mark Davis leaned on as he made big organizational decisions last year.”