Former Minnesota Vikings EDGE Welcomes Revenge Factor NFC North Trade Rumors

The (5-0) Minnesota Vikings are gearing up to play the (4-1) Detroit Lions on Sunday, a noon tilt at U.S. Bank Stadium to decide the early-season kings of the NFC North. It’s probably the most anticipated matchup on this week’s NFL slate.

And yet again, the most important game so far on the Vikings schedule… which is something we’ve said a lot during this gauntlet of a stretch to start their 2024 season. But let’s jump across party lines for a moment, and focus on the Detroit Lions.

Detroit Lions shopping for EDGE rushers after Aidan Hutchinson injury

Last year’s NFC North champs enter Sunday’s matchup vs the Vikings, with a lot on their plate. They just got done absolutely crushing the Dallas Cowboys last week, out of their bye. Unfortunately, they also lost superstar EDGE rusher Aidan Hutchinson for the season, after he suffered an ugly leg injury during the blowout 47-9 win in Big D.

At just 24-years-old, Hutchinson is already one of the best EDGE rushers in the NFL. Matt wrote about how much the Lions rely on the former Michigan game-wrecker, during his statistical preview of Sunday’s game.

It’s possible that no defense in the NFL has relied more on a singular defensive lineman all season, than the Lions have Aidan Hutchinson. Through 4 games (prior to his injury last week), Hutchinson had accounted for pretty much half of all Detroit’s QB pressure stats, according to Pro-Football-Reference.com.

That has led to all sorts of speculation regarding who the Lions might be targeting before the NFL Trade Deadline next month. Among the names that have emerged from league circles is former Minnesota Vikings (and Packer) pass rusher, Za’Darius Smith, who played one full season here back in 2022, after three seasons in Green Bay.

Za’Darius Smith would love to get revenge on Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers

Right now, Smith is six games through his second season with the Cleveland Browns. Let’s just say… things are not going well. The Browns are 1-5 and on the verge of hitting the sell button, in order to position themselves in the best possible spot for the 2025 NFL Draft.

Related: Is Ty Chandler About to Lose His RB2 Spot for the Minnesota Vikings?

If/when that happens, a well-traveled Za’Darius Smith will be one of the first to go. That’s why he and the Lions make so much sense. Would the former Viking/Packer welcome a trade back into the NFC North? Even while playing on another team, Smith couldn’t help but embrace the idea of going back and getting revenge on two of his former squads.

But the idea of joining a Super Bowl contender like the Lions, who lost in the NFC Championship Game last year and are 4-1, intrigued Smith.

“Hate that injury happened to him, a guy that was on his way to get Defensive Player of the Year possibly,” he said of Hutchinson. “That’s a big loss for them.

“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.”

BrownsZone.com

Does Za’Darius Smith to the Detroit Lions make sense?

I mean, this trade almost makes too much sense to ignore. So much so that Za’Darius can’t even keep his mouth shut. This interview also shows how bad things are right now, in Cleveland. Guys are openly giving interviews discussing where they might be traded before the deadline…

How much of a boost would Smith give the Detroit Lions, with Hutchinson out? The 31-year-old would likely be better on a good team, as a more featured player in the pass rush scheme, vs playing second-fiddle to Miles Garrett with the Browns.

Related: Final Minnesota Vikings Injury Report: Who’s In and Who’s Out vs Lions?

After collecting 5.5 sacks, 27 tackles and 20 QB hits in 2023, he’s got 3 sacks, 16 tackles, and just 3 QB hits in 2024. If the Lions want to get their hands on a proven veteran pass rusher, who won’t cost them an early round draft pick, Za’Darius Smith makes a lot of sense. But he won’t be Aidan Hutchinson, I can promise you that.