Vikings Trade Za’Darius Smith to Browns

It was reported earlier in the week that the Minnesota Vikings wanted EDGE rusher, Za’Darius Smith, to remain in purple next season. But whatever hope they had to make him happy clearly faded by Friday evening when Tom Pelissero tweeted that Smith had been traded, along with their 2025 6th and 7th round draft picks to the Cleveland Browns, in exchange for two 5th round picks (2024, 2025).

The #Vikings are trading three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Za’Darius Smith to the #Browns, sources tell me and @RapSheet.

His reworked contract guarantees him $11.75 million in 2023 and he’ll be a FA next March. All negotiated by his new agent @ErikBurkhardt of @RocNationSports. pic.twitter.com/Iftx3m6BNr

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 12, 2023

Za’Darius Smith’s time in Minnesota

Za’Darius Smith, on the opposite side of Danielle Hunter, was supposed to give the Vikings one of the best EDGE rushing combinations in the NFL. While effective at times, they never became the dominant duo we had hoped for.

Smith started the season hot but fell off during the final 8 games. He ended up recorded 10 sacks as a Viking. He reworked his contract as part of the trade and will make $11.75 million for the Browns next season.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan