Minnesota Vikings fans are reasonably disappointed after the team opted to trade disgruntled OLB Za'Darius Smith to the Cleveland Browns. Though fans might not be ready to hear it yet, the Vikings are coming out on top of this deal.

The #Vikings are trading three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Za’Darius Smith to the #Browns, sources tell me and @RapSheet.

His reworked contract guarantees him $11.75 million in 2023 and he’ll be a FA next March. All negotiated by his new agent @ErikBurkhardt of @RocNationSports. pic.twitter.com/Iftx3m6BNr

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 12, 2023

Hear me out.

Below are the full details of the trade, as reported by NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport:

Vikings Receive:

• 2024 5th-Round Pick
• 2025 5th Round Pick

Browns Receive:

• EDGE Za'Darius Smith
• 2025 6th-Round Pick
• 2025 7th-Round Pick

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What is not listed in the details is the the nearly $12 million the Vikings will save towards the 2023 salary cap. With these savings, Minnesota can now sign first-round draft pick WR Jordan Addison and even put some of the extra money to ink an available veteran edge defender.

If you're underwhelmed by the Za'Darius Smith trade, you must remember he already said goodbye — 9 weeks ago — and will save the Vikings $12m in cap space.

— Dustin Baker (@DustBaker) May 12, 2023

Keep in mind that Smith had tweeted his goodbye to the Vikings all the way back on March 9. So the fact that Minnesota was able to get something in return for a player who was never going to take another snap for the team is a win in its own right.

I just want to say “Thank you!” to Skol Nation for an amazing season & experience! Thank you to all of my Teammates, Coaches & the entire Minnesota Vikings Organization! ? pic.twitter.com/LAVAy5jptS

— Za'Darius Smith (@zadariussmith) March 9, 2023

The Vikings struggled to pressure the quarterback in 2022, finishing the season T-21st with 38 sacks. Losing Smith, who totaled 10 sacks last year, absolutely hurts. But Danielle Hunter, Harrison Phillips and newcomer Dean Lowry are capable of shouldering the load.

Not to mention the Vikings can now pursue free agent edge defenders such as Leonard Floyd, Robert Quinn and Markus Golden among others. These players check the two boxes Minnesota is looking for: effective and affordable.

Smith's trade was inevitable, but now that it's complete general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah can turn his attention to the Vikes star running back Dalvin Cook. Much like Smith, a trade here is the most realistic option. If and when the Vikings do deal Cook, the team will have even more money to work with as Adofo-Mensah puts the finishing touches on the 2023 roster.