The Detroit Lions sit atop the NFC North and are widely viewed as a favorite to represent the conference in the Super Bowl, but, entered the NFL trade deadline with one big need to fill.
After losing All-Pro edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson for the season, general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell needed to be aggressive to land one of the biggest prizes at a premier position, and did exactly that.
Detroit acquired veteran pass rusher Za’Darius Smith in a trade with the Cleveland Browns, who will add an immediate disruptor along the front-seven as the Lions enter a critical stretch of the season while plugging a big need when games are magnified in the run to the postseason.
Smith, 32, has five sacks so far this season along with 27 quarterback pressures and two hits, underscoring his ability to be a disruptive presence.
In Green Bay, Smith landing with the Lions isn’t just about watching a former pillar of the Packers’ defense now primed to wreak havoc against them but creates further separation in the NFC North race after Sunday’s Lions victory at Lambeau Field.
How Green Bay Packers Fans Reacted to Detroit Lions’ Za’Darius Smith Trade
Packers fans acting like Za’Darius Smith wasn’t a good pick up for the Lions is funny 😂😂😂 He still gets the job done.
— Chris | 🧀 (@GB4LCal) November 5, 2024
NOOOOOOOOOOOO NOT ZA'DARIUS SMITH TO THE LIONS!!!!
(are we doing it right?)
— StarWarsMan (@StarWarsMan9) November 5, 2024
Lions gonna twist the knife into the Packers this week by trading for their old friend Za’Darius Smith by the deadline
— tOSU State of Mind (@bucks3317) November 4, 2024
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