His NFL career started in 2022 after the Vikings made him a second-round pick. After dealing with injuries during his rook

After superstar pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson went down for the season, the Lions had a gaping hole on their otherwise Super Bowl-caliber roster. Detroit legitimately had everything except for a difference-maker off the defensive edge, a place that some of the other NFC powers (and the AFC’s heavyweights) could probably exploit in the postseason.

Hours before the NFL’s trade deadline at 4 p.m., the NFC-leading Lions (7-1) acquired defensive end Za’Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press.