Jake TrotterESPN staff writer3 minutes to read
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Berea, Ohio – The Cleveland Browns They beefed up their defense on Friday, and agreed to trade with Minnesota Vikings To pass the Pro Bowl three times Zedarius Smitha source confirmed to ESPN.
Minnesota will receive a pair of fifth-round picks (2024 and 2025) in the deal, the source said. In addition to Smith, Cleveland has the 2025 sixth round and 2025 seventh overall honors.
Smith, 30, will be a collaborator All-Pro Miles Garrett to give Cleveland one of the most successful pass duos in the NFL. Smith is one of five players with more than 10 sacks in three of the past four seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Information Research; Jarrett is one of the others.
Smith had 10 sacks with the Vikings in 2022. In 2019 and 2020, Smith combined for 26 sacks in back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons for Green Bay Packers. He still has over $11 in guaranteed salary left in his deal.
On March 9, Smith tweeted what appeared to be a farewell message to the Vikings, thanking the organization for a “great season and great experience”. But sources said at the time that Smith was under contract with the team and had no plans to release him, suggesting possible trade discussions.
The potential for trade intensified when the Vikings struck a bargain with the passers-by Marcus Davenport On the first day of the NFL’s free agent negotiation period.
Smith signed a three-year, $42 million free agent contract with the Vikings last spring amid reports that he first agreed to terms with the Vikings. Baltimore Crows after being released from the beams. The Vikings wanted him to be an outside linebacker to pair with the veteran Daniel Hunter In the 3-4 scheme favored by new coach Kevin O’Connell.
Smith enjoyed a strong start to the season, producing 8.5 sacks in the first seven weeks, but a chronic knee injury slowed him down and he managed just 1.5 sacks for the remainder of the regular season.
The Browns have already made several additions to their defense this offseason. Earlier in free agency, they had signed a veteran defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinsonsafety Juan Thornhill And Ogbonnia Okoronkwowho would eliminate Cleveland’s rotation of defensive end alongside Jarrett and Smith.
NFL Network first announced the trade agreement.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert contributed to this report.
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