Dawgs By Nature
Za’Darius Smith has been rumored in a Browns, Lions trade for weeks
We are so close to knowing what the rest of the 2024 NFL season will mean for the Cleveland Browns. Week 9 will decide whether fans get to hope for a miraculous Browns playoff run or focus only on Cleveland’s NFL draft and future. Hence, we have a Browns rooting guide that looks at games that impact both.
NFL trade deadline rumors have swirled around Cleveland’s roster since the team traded away WR Amari Cooper. DE Za’Darius Smith has been the primary name thrown around if Week 9 is a loss.
If the Browns win, we’ve compiled lists of players they could take off the trade block and another list of players they could look to acquire.
Smith’s name continued to be talked about in rumor pieces from both ESPN and The NFL Network Saturday night into Sunday morning. While Cleveland fans may not be able to expect a huge return, the Detroit Lions continue to be connected to a Smith trade:
Ian Rapoport also noted the Lions interest but that the Browns continue to receive calls from multiple teams which could help the trade return:
The Browns continue to receive calls on pass rusher Za’Darius Smith, who has five sacks on the season and has drawn interest from several teams, including the Lions. But it’s not a given that they trade the 32-year-old veteran. The Browns could decide to keep him and his base salary of $1.21 million (the rest of his salary was paid earlier as part of a restructure). There are other veterans in Cleveland who have drawn interest, as well.
The last sentence makes it clear that, if the Browns are sellers, teams are lining up to get players off a roster that was expected to compete for an AFC Championship this year.
In the end, like most trade deadlines, Cleveland could make a move or two but expecting them to sell off multiple starters just doesn’t make sense. If the Browns lose Sunday, trading Smith, Jack Conklin or Greg Newsome II makes sense if the return is right. Otherwise, a very similar team will enter Week 10.
What do you expect to happen with Za’Darius Smith at the trade deadline? Do you think the Browns could get a similar return as they did for Amari Cooper?
