The Vikings have come to an agreement with the Browns sending pass rushers Za’Darius Smith to Cleveland, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
For Smith, the deal finally comes about after he applied for his release two months ago. The Browns receive Smith, a 2025 sixth-round pick and a 2025 seventh-round pick, while the Vikings receive a 2024 fifth-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick. 
Smith was originally on a three-year, $42 million contract through the 2024 season. He had a base salary of $9.45 million this year, of which only $5 million was guaranteed. After changing agents and requesting a release, Smith was able to do so Get a revised quote That would guarantee him $11.75 million in 2023 and allow him to move to free agency a year early, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The new deal arguably made it a little easier to trade with Smith, as it eliminated the $15.49 million in 2023 and $21.67 million in 2024 caps. The Browns would inherit this new contract from Minnesota and allow Smith a year-long trial in Cleveland. The former Ravens and Packers defensive end turns 31 just before the start of the season.
In Smith, the Browns get a prolific pass rusher to work with Myles Garrett. The Browns finished 27th in the league with the Sacks last year after feeling no pressure other than Garrett. Garrett put in a strong performance as usual, hitting a career high of 16 sacks in 2022. The team’s second best pass rusher was defensive tackle Taven Bryanwho only got three.
Smith provides the missing fire support. Since leaving Baltimore as a top-ranked free agent in 2019, Smith has had double-digit sack seasons every year in which he started multiple games (he made only one start in 2021 due to a back injury) and made the Pro Bowl in each of those games these seasons. In those four years (essentially three seasons), Smith has 36 sacks, 44 tackles for losses and 84 quarterback hits, while forcing six forced fumbles and seven deflections.
Smith is immediately available as a starter opposite Garrett, although the Browns also signed a free agent edge rusher Ogbonnia Okoronkwo from the Texans. He, Garrett and Smith will present an interesting trio. The Browns used Jadeveon Clowney as Garrett’s best pal for the past two years, but conflicts with the coaching staff will almost certainly result in a third Garrett-Browns contract deal. As for the Vikings, they’ve signed one of the best defensive free agents of the year – Marcus Davenport – and the former Cameron Jordan The Saints winger now has a clear path to start opposite Danielle Hunter.
The Browns have everything they can Joe Burrow And Lamar Jackson two times a year. With Smith meeting Garrett at quarterback, Cleveland has retooled and is well-equipped for the challenges ahead without giving up too much draft capital.