After a few weeks of rumors, hints, winks and nudges, the time has finally come. The Detroit Lions are trading for Cleveland Browns defensive end Za’Darius Smith, according to multiple reports. The trading conditions are as follows:

Getting Lions:

• DE Za’Darius Smith
• 7th round pick in 2026

Getting Browns:

• 5th round pick in 2025
• 6th round pick in 2026

As for the finances of the move, if Detroit doesn’t agree to eat some of the cap hits, it will be a very financially responsible move:

Smith should immediately jump to the top of Detroit’s depth chart, filling a major void left by Aidan Hutchinson’s serious injury from Week 6. Hutchinson was on his way to an All-Pro season, tallying 7.5 sacks in four and a half games. . Since his injury, the Lions defensive linemen have collected just one sack in three games.

In nine games with the Browns, Smith produced 5.0 sacks and six tackles for loss. Not only will he help Detroit’s anemic pass rush, but he should give the Lions’ declining run defense a nice boost. Smith a strong, physical force who should fit exactly what Detroit is looking for in their defensive bookends.

It’s unclear how quickly the Lions can get Smith into the lineup, but a few weeks ago coach Dan Campbell noted that defensive players were able to adapt quickly and get on the field without much preparation.

“I think we’re going to find a way to get this guy in immediately,” Campbell said. “I wanted to say some of the (defensive) terminology. Even if it’s limited, I think you try to get that player started as quickly as possible. But I don’t want to tell you, ‘Absolutely, they would walk right in.’ But I think that would be the idea.”

With Smith added to Detroit’s defense and the hopeful return of Josh Paschal this week, the Lions defensive front could look a lot different — and hopefully a lot better — on Sunday night against the Houston Texans.