Former Kentucky DE Za’Darius Smith traded away by Minnesota Vikings, per report

Former Kentucky DE Za’Darius Smith had a strong bounce-back season in 2022 for the Minnesota Vikings. However, he was reportedly moved in a trade Friday evening.

According to reports from NFL insiders Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport, the Vikings are trading Smith to the Cleveland Browns for draft-pick compensation. The deal is also tied to Smith’s search for more guaranteed money in the final year of his contract.

According to Rapoport, Smith’s deal was originally for $9.4 million but only had just $5 million guaranteed in the 2023 season. After reworking his deal with the Browns, Smith will earn $11.75 million fully guaranteed for the 2023 season.

The full trade, per league source:#Browns get:
Za’Darius Smith
2025 6th-round pick
2025 7th-roundpick#Vikings get:
2024 5th-round pick
2025 5th-round pick https://t.co/outlkV71ME

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 12, 2023

Smith was previously under contract with the Vikings thru 2024 with a $9.4m salary & only $5m guaranteed in 2023.

Now? $11.75m fully guaranteed money in 2023. https://t.co/RMDIFybHw2

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 12, 2023

Smith has double-digit sacks in 3 of the past 4 seasons with an injured 2021 campaign the lone year without a sack in his career. He had 10 sacks, 15 TFL and 24 QB hits a year ago for the Vikings.

During two seasons at Kentucky, Smith posted 119 tackles, 14 TFL and 11 sacks across the 2013-14 seasons for the Wildcats.

Paul Harvey

Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.