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Za’Darius Smith recently got traded from the Minnesota Vikings to the Cleveland Browns. I’ll give you my quick analysis for both teams.
Minnesota came away with two fifth round picks in the process. Those two fifth round picks could be used to move up in a future draft to get the coveted franchise quarterback. With Za’Darius Smith publicly thanking Skol Nation on 3/9/2023, you can assume he was ready to move on.
With the addition of Marcus Davenport, you can assume that he would take on the new role on the opposite side of Danielle Hunter to have similar or better production because of his youth.
The Vikings improved their draft assets while giving up a 6 and a 7 in the process for a player who didn’t want to play for the Vikings again under the terms of the 2022 offseason. Smith was a great addition to the Vikings who gave us the pass rush that we needed to apply pressure.
Smith ended up being a one-trick pony for the Vikings who eventually lost his production towards the second half of the season. This move kind of reminds me of the Yannick Ngakoue trade from three years ago.
The Vikings got Ngakoue from the Jaguars in 2020 in exchange for a 2 and a 5.
Ngakoue took any trade he can get to get out of Jacksonville. During the season the Vikings traded Ngakoue to Baltimore as it appeared that he didn’t want to be in Minnesota either. Cleveland is entering the unknown of what they would be getting in Smith.
One thing the Cleveland Browns have going for them currently is Myles Garrett which is one of the few draft choices that Cleveland got right in their recent drafting history.
Smith is enough of a threat to provide pass rushing help on the opposite side of the ball.
With another former Viking Dalvin Tomlinson joining the Browns on a four-year deal, the Browns are getting former Vikings to join the defense in Cleveland.
How will new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz use his new acquired pass rusher remains to be seen, thanks to the lack of draft capital in the draft, thanks to DeShaun Watson, Cleveland looked to other avenues to improve their upcoming defense for 2023.
With a fully healthy Smith the defense should improve, however his production fell off the second half of 2022. Smith missing the 2021 regular season due to injury may still have question marks but trading only two 5th round picks is a low risk cost to receive potential Pro Bowl production.
Now that Smith is a Brown let’s look at a few things.
Smith started his NFL career as a member of the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens and Browns happen to be division rivals. After his initial departure from Baltimore, he signs with Green Bay and had success in Green Bay.
After his Green Bay departure, he eventually found his way in Minnesota, who is a division rival of Green Bay. Did Za’Darius sign with the Vikings only to stick it to the Packers and sack Aaron Rodgers?
What was his initial motive to sign with the Vikings we’ll never know. However, the one year he was with the Vikings led to a successful regular season record of 13-4. Now that he is with a rival of another former team of his, apparently Za’Darius holds grudges against his former teams.
For the Vikings I’d give this trade a B-. They got value for a player who didn’t want to be apart of the future with the Minnesota Vikings under the terms of his current contract.
For the Browns I’d give this trade a B to a B+. They got pass rushing help as Myles Garrett can’t do it alone, however which version of Za’Darius are the getting is a wait and see process.