The Detroit Lions landed their top trade target on Tuesday night, bolstering their defensive line in a logical and relatively cheap way. Per several reports out there now, the Lions and Browns were in conversations about Browns defensive end Za’Darius Smith all the way back in Week 7, right after Aidan Hutchinson suffered his broken leg.
“The day after Aidan Hutchinson went down against Dallas, Cleveland picked up the phone, called the Lions, and began conversations that culminated on Tuesday morning when the two sides agreed to a deal,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said on Tuesday evening.