Lions are reportedly among teams to call the Browns about Za'Darius Smith

At 1-6, and now without quarterback Deshaun Watson for the rest of the season due to a Achilles injury, the Cleveland Browns are fully in line to be trade deadline sellers. To what extent they sell is to be determined. According to Brad Stainbrook of 247 Sports "multiple teams" have called the Browns about the availability of edge rusher Za'Darius Smith, including the Detroit Lions.

Smith's name has been easily tied to the Lions, especially now in the wake of Aidan Hutchinson's season-ending leg injury. When asked about a potential trade to the Lions last week, Smith seemed interested in the idea.

"That’s a big loss for them (regarding Hutchinson). But if I was to go to Detroit, I would like it, because I get to play Green Bay twice a year and the Vikings twice a year. So, yeah, that’ll be big.”

Za'Darius Smith looks like a perfect fit for the Detroit Lions

Smith (6-foot-4, 275 pounds) looks like a great schematic fit for the Lions, versatile as well as equally proficient as a pass rusher and a run defender. He has four sacks this season and three tackles for loss, as Pro Football Focus has him graded as a top-50 edge defender in the league through Week 7 (No. 47, 67.6 overall grade) with 15 pressures (38th).

Smith would also not be particularly costly. An acquiring team would pick up the prorated remainder of his $1.21 million base salary for this year, and his $1.5 million base salary for next year is not guaranteed. At 32 years old he would have no place in any rebuild/reset the Browns might be headed for, so getting a draft pick back for him when he's sure to be in demand on the trade market would seem ideal.

During his radio appearance on Tuesday morning, Lions head coach Dan Campbell strongly hinted that the outside search for an edge rusher is ramping up. That would seem to very likely include Smith, even with some expected competition in play.