After Aidan Hutchinson suffered a season-ending broken leg last season, Za'Darius Smith quickly stood out as a potential edge rusher trade target for the Detroit Lions. A deal got done on trade deadline day, and after the season, general manager Brad Holmes openly talked about how arduous the process was.
Due in large part to how the contract he had with the Cleveland Browns was structured in terms of void years and timing of a big bonus payout, and apparently without being able to agree about a revision to that contract, the Lions waived Smith in March.