Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Lions Links for Tuesday 11-5-24

Articles:

TWENTYMAN: What Smith trade means for Lions' defense:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/twentyman-what-smith-trade-means-for-lions-defense

Lions agree to terms with Cleveland Browns to acquire DL Za'Darius Smith via trade:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-agree-to-terms-with-cleveland-browns-to-acquire-dl-za-darius-smith-via-trade

TWENTYMAN: 5 stats that stand out following Lions' Week 9 victory:  https://www.detroitlions.com/news/5-stats-detroit-lions-week-9-stbrown-joseph-campbell





Lions stand pat at NFL trade deadline after the Za'Darius Smith deal:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/11/05/detroit-lions-nfl-trade-deadline-summary-brad-holmes-deals/


What they’re saying about Za’Darius Smith trade for the Detroit Lions:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/11/05/lions-trade-reaction-zadarius-smith-twitter-reacts/

Za'Darius Smith: What the Lions are getting in their new EDGE:   https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2024/11/05/zadarius-smith-lions-nfl-trade-scouting-report/

Best and worst PFF grades for Lions from Week 9 vs. Packers:  https://lionswire.usatoday.com/lists/best-and-worst-pff-grades-for-lions-from-week-9-vs-packers/

Dan Campbell Gives First Thoughts on Za'Darius Smith Trade:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/dan-campbell-first-thoughts-smith-trade


Does Za'Darius Smith Trade Make Lions Super Bowl Favorites?:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/podcasts/are-lions-super-bowl-favorites-after-smith-trade


Lions Fans React to Smith Trade: Want a Ring, Get Traded to Detroit:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-fans-react-to-smith-trade

Detroit Lions Are No. 1 Seed in NFC Playoff Race:  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-top-seed-2024-nfc-playoff-chase



5 Qs: What the Detroit Lions are getting in Za’Darius Smith trade:  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2024/11/5/24288699/5-qs-what-detroit-lions-getting-zadarius-smith-trade

Lions stock report: 7 risers, 3 fallers from wet Lambeau win:  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2024/11/5/24288323/lions-packers-stock-report-2024-lambeau-win


Goff laughs off smack talk from Packers, touts "mistake-free football" for Lions:  https://www.audacy.com/971theticket/sports/detroit-lions/detroit-lions-jared-goff-laughs-off-smack-talk-from-packers

Is Za'Darius Smith Lions' missing piece? Answering 5 key questions about the trade:  https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/42209305/zadarius-smith-lions-browns-trade-deadline

Za'Darius Smith tweets, deletes his initial thoughts on trade from Browns to Lions:  https://247sports.com/article/zadarius-smith-tweets-deletes-his-initial-thoughts-on-trade-from-browns-to-lions-239248088/

Why your NFL team won, lost in Week 9 (Why the Lions won: Jared Goff had another efficient but brilliant passing performance against the Packers, and the Lions offense flashed when they utilized play action, with Goff passing out of play action on 47.8% of his dropbacks. He was a perfect 11-of-11 for 103 yards, averaging 9.4 yards per attempt and earning an 83.6 overall grade. Goff averaged just 3.8 yards per attempt on non-play-action dropbacks, so the extended use of it allowed the Lions to push the ball downfield more frequently with success.):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-why-your-nfl-team-won-lost-in-week-9

QB Stock Market Week 10: Baker Mayfield awakes the real Patrick Mahomes (8. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions):  https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/qb-stock-market-week-10-baker-mayfield-awakes-real-patrick-mahomes




Za’Darius Smith Trade Could Propel Detroit to Super Bowl LIX:  https://athlonsports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/zadarius-smith-trade-detroit-lions-super-bowl-lix

NFL trade deadline 2024 winners and losers: Jerry Jones doomed Cowboys with his worst trade ever (Winner: The Detroit Lions' Super Bowl hopes - After superstar pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson went down for the season, the Lions had a gaping hole on their otherwise Super Bowl-caliber roster. Detroit legitimately had everything except for a difference-maker off the defensive edge, a place that some of the other NFC powers (and the AFC’s heavyweights) could probably exploit in the postseason.  Enter ex-Cleveland Brown and former All-Pro Za’Darius Smith.  At the age of 32, Smith’s best days are almost certainly behind him. But even at a lower level of play, the veteran still has five sacks, six tackles-for-loss, and seven quarterback hits this season while primarily featuring in a situational role for the Browns. The now-complete Lions won’t count on Smith to do everything, but he suffices as that missing puzzle piece for the overwhelming favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.  And Smith’s on the Lions roster for just two late-round draft selections. Oh, yeah, general manager Brad Holmes was cooking with this deal.):  https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/nfl-trade-deadline-winners-losers-cowboys-commanders-lions

5 NFL teams that got better at the 2024 trade deadline (and 3 that got worse) (Better: Detroit Lions - There was no more obvious fit on deadline day than the Lions and Za’Darius Smith. Injuries to Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport left Detroit punchless in the pass rush; over the last two weeks that group had one total sack.  The Lions didn’t have a single active player who wasn’t an interior lineman record more than four quarterback pressures through Week 9. Smith can change that. The veteran isn’t quite as impactful as his five sacks suggest and his production may dip a bit now that he’s not playing alongside Myles Garrett. Even so, he’s still an above-average pass rusher who can bring the pressure Detroit has missed and make life easier for the team’s secondary.):  https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/2024-nfl-trade-deadline-winners-cowboys-saints-commanders

Trade Grades:

Walter football NFL Trade Grades (Lions acquire DE Za’Darius Smith from Browns for 5th-round pick, swap of 2026 6th-, 7th-round picks - It would have been shocking if the Lions didn’t make a trade for a pass rusher at the deadline. They obviously had a big need at the position in the wake of Aidan Hutchinson’s season-ending injury, and they managed to fill that need at a very reasonable price.  Smith is 32, but he’s still playing at a high level this year. He has accumulated five sacks while playing about half the snaps each week. He has also held up well against the run. He’s a perfect short-term fix, and the Lions aren’t giving up much. The 2026 pick swap is inconsequential, so all the Lions are relinquishing is a fifth-round pick this year. Surrendering a fifth-rounder to give themselves a better chance to win the Super Bowl is a great move.  I like this trade for Cleveland as well. The Browns need to be focusing on the future, so a 32-year-old edge rusher won’t be part of those plans. They did a good job of obtaining a fifth-round pick for Smith to help with the rebuilding process.  Grade for Lions – A+.  Grade for Browns – A):  https://walterfootball.com/nfltrades.php

PFF (EDGE Za’Darius Smith → Detroit Lions.  Detroit Lions send: 2025 fifth-round draft pick and 2026 sixth-round draft pick.  Cleveland Browns send: EDGE Za’Darius Smith and 2026 seventh-round draft pick.  The Lions were a Super Bowl contender in desperate need of a pass-rusher after Aidan Hutchinson’s season-ending injury, and Smith is a huge upgrade for them off the edge. His 71.1 PFF pass-rushing grade ranks 24th at the position this season and is significantly better than every healthy edge defender currently on the Lions roster.  Lions grade: A+.  Browns grade: B-):  https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2024-nfl-trade-deadline-tracker-grades-every-deal

SN Za'Darius Smith trade grades (Lions grade: A.  The Lions avoided giving too much of their draft capital over the next two years to get Smith, who was playing well for former Lions head coach Jim Schwartz's defense opposite Myles Garrett, the reigning NFL defensive player of the year.  A three-time Pro Bowler, Smith continues to play well at 32. He has delivered for the Ravens, Packers, Vikings and Browns in his career, with his peak coming in Green Bay, where he operated with Preston Smith.  Beyond Hutchinson being hurt, ends John Cominsky and Marcus Davenport are also out on Injured Reserve, and Josh Pascal has missed recent action with a medical issue. Getting Smith was an absolute must for Detroit, and the Lions didn't need to give up much to fix a desperate situation. Smith can be an instant boost to their sack production.):  https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/zadarius-smith-trade-grades-lions-browns/30853b9a9b7c1e44780e0148

Pride of Detroit Za’Darius Smith trade: Grading the Detroit Lions’ move (Overall - There’s a reason why the Lions’ EDGE search seemed hyper-focused on Smith. He’s an ideal fit, a balanced player, and a Dan Campbell guy—all at an extremely affordable price both in terms of draft picks and cap hit.  Overall grade: A):  https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2024/11/5/24288686/zadarius-smith-trade-grading-the-detroit-lions-move

SI All Lions Grading Lions Trade for Za'Darius Smith (Grade: A):  https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/grading-lions-zadarious-smith-trade

PFN NFL Trade Deadline: Grades for Latest NFL Deals Including Mike Williams, Marshon Lattimore, Jonathan Mingo, and Preston Smith Tradesthe Year (Lions Acquire EDGE Za’Darius Smith From Browns - Lions acquired: EDGE Za’Darius Smith, 2026 seventh-round pick.  Browns acquired: 2025 fifth-round pick.  The Detroit Lions have one of the NFL’s best rosters, so much so that their only genuine need heading into the 2024 trade deadline was created by an unprecedented string of injuries.  Aidan Hutchinson, the league’s leading contender for Defensive Player of the Year honors, fractured his tibia and fibula in Detroit’s Week 6 win against the Cowboys.  Hutchinson was hurt while reaching 7.5 sacks, the most in the NFL at the time. Entering Week 6, he ranked first among edge defenders in pass-rush win rate (34%). Hutchinson had generated pressure on a league-leading 23.6% of his pass rushes, nearly five percentage points better than second-place Micah Parsons and more than double the league-average rate.  Hutchinson isn’t the only Detroit edge rusher who’s suffered a severe injury this season. Marcus Davenport, whom the Lions inked to a one-year deal worth $6.5 million in March, went down with a season-ending triceps injury in Week 3.  No single player can replace Detroit’s lost EDGE production, but Smith might be able to help.  While Smith’s sack totals have fluctuated over the past few seasons, his pressure rate has mostly remained steady, sticking between 14% and 17% each season since 2022.  Smith is also under contract for just $4 million in 2025. When Davenport hits free agency next season, Smith will be an affordable option for the Lions.  Detroit traded less for Smith than the Arizona Cardinals gave up for fellow past rusher Baron Browning. While Browning is seven years younger, he’s more expensive than Smith and doesn’t come with an additional year of team contract control.  Lions grade: A.  Browns grade: C+):  https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-trade-deadline-grades-top-nfl-deals-including-davante-adams-amari-cooper-11-4-24/

USA Today (Lions: A-.  With the 7-1 Lions off to their best start since 1956 and looking like a legitimate threat to make their first Super Bowl appearance, adding a starter at defensive end to replace Hutchinson was essentially a necessity for Brad Holmes. In Smith, 32, he found likely the best option on the market as far as a short-term fix for this team. The three-time Pro Bowl selection shouldn't be expected to reach the same heights Hutchinson did in what was looking like an NFL Defensive Player of the Year campaign – his 7 ½ sacks still account for 37.5% of the team's production in that category – but replacing his impact and production was never on the table. Smith, who has five sacks this year, should provide a good bit of pressure while still satisfying Campbell's demand to remain stout against the run. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn likely will still need to be creative in dialing up blitzes to help this front four – Detroit ranks sixth in blitz rate on the season at 29.8%, according to Pro Football Reference – but it's hard to beat this price and payoff.):  https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2024/11/05/zadarius-smith-trade-grades-browns-lions/76063023007/

CBS - Za'Darius Smith traded to Lions: Grading the deal (Lions: A-.  This was a much-needed move for the Lions in the wake of losing star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson for the season due to a leg injury. While Smith shouldn't be looked at as a one-to-one replacement for Hutchinson, he helps cushion the blow of his absence and should help apply pressure to the quarterback down the stretch. At the time of his injury, Hutchinson led the NFL in sacks, but through nine weeks, no other Lions defender has more than 2.5 sacks. Smith comes aboard with five sacks on the season already and 65 for his career. It's also worth pointing out that he has plenty of playoff experience (eight career playoff games played), which will come in handy as the Lions look to make a Super Bowl run. This is a team with legitimate championship aspirations and is identifying a key need at a relatively low cost.):  https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/zadarius-smith-trade-grades-lions-get-much-needed-help-at-pass-rusher-browns-add-future-draft-asset/

FTW Za'Darius Smith trade grades: Who won the Lions-Browns deal? (Lions grade: B+.  Browns grade: B):  https://ftw.usatoday.com/2024/11/zadarius-smith-trade-grades-lions-browns-winners-losers

Power Rankings:


Video:

Rodgers impressed by Jared Goff's season in Detroit:  https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/42213396

Stephen A.: Za'Darius Smith is a game changer for Lions:  https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/42209654

Are the Lions closer to a Super Bowl title after trading for Za'Darius Smith?:  https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/42208245
Posted by LionsFan at 7:06 PM

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