3-time Pro Bowl edge rusher admits he'd like to play for Detroit Lions

After losing both Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport for the season, Detroit Lions fans and local and national media alike have been speculating on who the team could go after to fill their voids ahead of the Nov. 5 trade deadline.

One of the most popular names thrown around has been Cleveland Browns edge rusher Za'Darius Smith, and for good reason — the Browns are going nowhere and have already shown they're going to be sellers after trading Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills.

When asked about the speculation surrounding him and a possible trade to the Lions, Smith, a three-time Pro Bowler, said, "I didn't even know about it."

Smith also shared his condolences for the injury to Hutchinson before admitting he definitely wouldn't mind going to Detroit.

“Hate that injury happened to him, a guy that was on his way to get Defensive Player of the Year possibly,” Smith said of Hutchinson, per Scott Petrak of Browns Zone . “That’s a big loss for them. But if I was to go to Detroit, I would like it, because I get to play Green Bay twice a year and the Vikings twice a year. So, yeah, that’ll be big.”

Chances are the 32-year-old would also enjoy joining a winning team. After all, the Browns are 1-5 and an absolute dumpster fire, mostly because of Deshaun Watson.

While acquiring Smith wouldn't be a Maxx Crosby-sized splash for the Lions, he would still be a notable one. Smith has three seasons of double-digit sacks in his career, and after a down year in 2023 that saw him tally just 5.5 in 16 games, the veteran edge rusher has three through six contests in 2024.

Smith is also quite familiar with the NFC North after having spent three seasons with the Green Bay Packers and one with the Minnesota Vikings. Clearly he wouldn't mind sticking it to his old teams.