5 teams who could steal Za'Darius Smith from the Lions before the trade deadline

4. Baltimore Ravens

The Browns may have zero inclination to send Smith to a division rival, and with that in mind their easy preference might be to send him to an NFC team if trade offers are equal. But the idea of trading someone to a division rival is no longer as taboo as it once seemed to be.

For some reason, the Ravens acquired wide receiver Diontae Johnson from the Carolina Panthers this week. But their issues defensively are well-known, and set to be the thing that holds them back from any big goals for this season. Smith would certainly help a pass rush that has been lacking, and overall general manager Eric DeCosta doesn't seem inclined to sit on his hands to address the Ravens' defense before the deadline.

3. Arizona Cardinals

Once looking like potential trade deadline sellers, the Cardinals have won two in a row now sit atop the NFC West based on tie breakers (2-0 in the division) heading into Week 9. They also have issues with their pass rush, with just 15 sacks and deeper pass rush metrics (pressure rate, hurry rate, etc.) that are near the bottom of the league so far this season

The Cardinals, like the Lions, have a lot of realistic options on the trade market to fill a pass rush void. Unlike the Lions, they could opt to do nothing about it and they'd not necessarily be wrong. But the NFC being unexpectedly up for grabs right now pushes the idea Arizona could nab Smith from Detroit's grasp.