Vikings trade Za'Darius Smith after one season with team
The Minnesota Vikings are trading three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Za’Darius Smith to the Cleveland Browns, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport. Smith requested a trade and tweeted his goodbyes to the Vikings in a tweet back in March. Pelissero and Rapoport report that Smith has reworked his contract which guarantees him […]
The Minnesota Vikings are trading three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Za’Darius Smith to the Cleveland Browns, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport.
Smith requested a trade and tweeted his goodbyes to the Vikings in a tweet back in March. Pelissero and Rapoport report that Smith has reworked his contract which guarantees him $11.75 million in 2023 and will leave him eligible to test the waters in free agency following the season.
Here are the full details of the trade:
Vikings Receive:
- 2024 5th-Round Pick
- 2025 5th Round Pick
Browns Receive:
- EDGE Za'Darius Smith
- 2025 6th-Round Pick
- 2025 7th-Round Pick
Smith spent just one season in Minnesota after signing a three-year deal worth $42 million last offseason. In 2022, he registered 44 tackles and 10 sacks, which ranked second on the team trailing only Danielle Hunter (10.5).
It's quite a blow for a Vikings pass rush that struggled to affect opposing quarterbacks last season. Minnesota ranks T-21st with 38 sacks in 2022. The defense will be reliant upon a pass rush consisting of Hunter, Harrison Phillips, Dean Lowry and company to create pressure in the upcoming season.
