Early on Tuesday morning, the Detroit Lions got NFL trade deadline day going with the news of a deal to acquire defensive end Za'Darius Smith from the Cleveland Browns. Head coach Dan Campbell happened to be on the radio for his weekly spot on 97.1 The Ticket as the news was coming out, but he didn't do more than reference one of the reporters who broke the news.
Until a trade is made official (players involved pass a physical, etc.), coaches and players have to be careful what they say about an incoming player. Lions quarterback Jared Goff was careful to talk about Smith during his own appearance on 97.1 The Ticket Tuesday morning.
The trade for Smith was made official later on Tuesday. So when Campbell talked with Lions' radio play-by-play voice Dan Miller of FOX2 in Detroit, he was able to freely give his thoughts on the acquisition.
Dan Campbell offers early thoughts on Za'Darius Smith acquisition
Naturally, Miller started off the segment by asking Campbell what Smith brings to the team.
"It’s good to get him here. He brings an element of toughness, smart football player, can set an edge, can get an edge in rush, close the pocket down,” Campbell said. “He’s just a really good complementary piece that I think is going to work well with our guys.”
In terms of how to get Smith acclimated quickly, Miller wrote down a note he showed Campbell.
"See quarterback, hit quarterback. I like that", Campbell said. "That’ll work. Yes, he does. He provides really a lot. I feel like this guy is a total defensive end, and certainly he can get to the quarterback.”
@Lions head coach Dan Campbell on the team's trade for Za'darius Smith:#Lions @DanMillerFox2 pic.twitter.com/S2Ne30iBWs
— FOX 2 Sports (@FOX2Sports) November 5, 2024
The Lions reportedly started engaging the Browns about a trade for Smith soon after Aidan Hutchinson went down in Week 6. It appears they were patient, and waited on the Browns as they hoped to get other teams to develop a need for pass rush help. The early on deadline day, a favorable-looking deal for Detroit got done.
Smith has five sacks, 27 pressures and a PFF pass rushing grade of 71.1 this season. So it feels automatic he'll help a pass rush that has had a natural drop-off since Hutchinson went down, with just one sack from a defensive lineman and five total sacks over the last three games.