Vikings trading former Kentucky pass rusher Za'Darius Smith to Browns

The Cleveland Browns went out and upgraded its defensive unit by way of a former Wildcat.

On Friday night, the Minnesota Vikings executed a trade with the Browns that will send edge rusher Za’Darius Smith, who played at Kentucky from 2013-14, to Cleveland in exchange for a pair of fifth-round picks in 2024 and 2025. Additionally, the Browns will acquire Minnesota’s 2025 sixth- and seventh-round draft picks.

Smith, 30, has also reworked his contract. The one-time ‘Cat will now make $11.75 million in guaranteed money this season before becoming a free agent in the following offseason. NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero were first to report the deal.

The #Vikings are trading three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Za’Darius Smith to the #Browns, sources tell me and @TomPelissero.

His reworked deal guarantees him $11.75 million in 2023 and he’ll be a FA next March. Deal negotiated by his new agent @ErikBurkhardt of @RocNationSports. pic.twitter.com/dBld2TfSzp

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 12, 2023

In Cleveland, Smith, a three-time Pro Bowler, will join forces alongside All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett, forming one of the top pass-rushing units in the NFL. Smith will help replace the loss of fellow defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who was not brought to the Browns for another season after a so-so run in Cleveland the last two years.

Smith is coming off an impressive 2022 season that saw him named to his third Pro Bowl in the last four seasons. He appeared in 16 games for the Vikings, totaling 10 sacks, 44 tackles (15 for loss), five passes defended (a career-high) and one forced fumble.

Prior to his time in Minnesota, Smith was a back-to-back Pro Bowl selection with the Green Bay Packers in 2019 and 2020 when he combined for 26 total sacks during that span. In the latter season, he was named Second-Team All-Pro. Smith played just one game in 2021 with the Packers due to injury but still managed to sign a three-year, $42 million deal with Minnesota in March 2022.

A former fourth-round draft pick, Smith registered 119 total tackles (14 for loss), 11 sacks, and two forced fumbles during his two-year stint with Kentucky.