One of the most sad aspects of the NFL season is superstar players suffering injuries that hold them out of an entire season. While the Detroit Lions were stomping the Dallas Cowboys in AT&T Stadium, superstar defensive end Aidan Hutchinson did just that.
Hutchinson suffered an injury that will hold him out of the remainder of the season -- unless the Lions can achieve a Super Bowl appearance -- leaving Detroit with a void to fill at the position.
Fans initially called for JJ Watt to unretire and return to the gridiron, this time in a Lions jersey. He made sure to let the fans down easy, claiming he was enjoying his life in retirement.
With the trade deadline on the way, there's a huge opportunity for the Lions to get a serviceable defensive end to fill the pass-rushing void. Currently 5-1 on the season, Detroit should absolutely land a replacement defensive end at the trade deadline.
Athon Sports' Doug Farrar pitched a trade idea to land Za'Darius Smith of the Cleveland Browns in Detroit. The Browns are currently in a bad spot as a franchise with their quarterback out for the season after a slow start.
"Smith can be very good on the edge, but his ultimate value is as a multi-gap disruptor," Farrar explained. "At 6-foot-4 and 275 pounds, Smith is a hybrid player in the best way, with the speed to get to the quarterback outside, and the power to bull past guards and centers inside."
The Browns seem to be willing to be sellers at the trade deadline, as they've already traded wide receiver Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills.
"Smith signed a two-year, $23 million contract this offseason with $12 million guaranteed, so his cap hits are reasonable, and given the lost season the 1-6 Browns are going through, they might be in full fire sale mode sooner than later," Farrar continued.
While Smith isn't the player Hutchinson is, the Lions are a strong, rounded team that simply needs a player to suffice at the position. The 32-year-old pass rusher could be very useful in different alignments and schemes, making him a good trade option for the Lions.
