One of the bigger trades at the 2024 NFL Trade Deadline was a move sending Za’Darius Smith to the NFC-leading Detroit Lions. What’s weird about that is that the Minnesota Vikings, who signed him to a three-year deal in 2022, still hadn’t even used all the compensation for their 2023 trade of Smith.
With the 2025 NFL Draft, that trade will finally be complete and Minnesota will have used all the trade compensation, including their trade up for J.J. McCarthy.
Original terms of the Za’Darius Smith trade between the Vikings and Browns
Vikings receive: 2024 fifth-round pick, 2025 fifth-round pick
Browns receive: Za’Darius Smith, 2025 sixth-round pick, 2025 seventh-round pick
Who did the Vikings select with the picks from the Za’Darius Smith trade?
The 2024 NFL Draft pick the Vikings received ended up settling at pick 157. Minnesota used that pick as part of a package of picks to trade up in the first round for the 10th overall selection where they picked QB J.J. McCarthy. The Jets subsequently traded the pick, moving up from 72 to 65. The Carolina Panthers selected Washington State CB Chau Smith-Wade with the pick.
The 2025 fifth-round selection settled at 139 when the draft order was released. The Vikings selected Georgia DT Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins.
Who did the Browns select with the picks from the Za’Darius Smith trade?
The sixth-round pick in the trade compensation finished at pick No. 200. The Browns shipped this to the Jaguars as part of the Travis Hunter/Mason Graham swap in the first round, and the Jags added safety Rayuan Lane III from Navy.
Cleveland traded the seventh-rounder from Minnesota at the end of August 2024, acquiring DT Chris Williams from the Chicago Bears. Williams played all 17 games for Chicago, logging three sacks and 23 tackles playing 34% of defensive snaps. He re-signed on a one-year deal.
The pick finished at 240 overall when the draft order was announced. The Buffalo Bills selected Maryland WR Kaden Prather with the selection after a trade with Chicago.
How did Za’Darius Smith play for the Browns?
Smith played 25 games for Cleveland before being traded midway through the 2024 season. He notched 50 tackles, 10.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and three passes knocked down in his time with the Browns. Cleveland also paid him $11 million.