The Detroit Lions made only one big signing this offseason, adding cornerback D.J. Reed to replace Carlton Davis. Their best move at the position, however, might end up being an underrated addition.
In the second wave of free agency, the Lions targeted cornerback Avonte Maddox. The pitch to land Maddox likely wasn't difficult given he comes from Detroit, but the franchise was still able to add the successful defensive back, representing a huge win.
At the time, few people likely realized what an important development Maddox's addition would be, but the Super Bowl winner has quickly impressed in the Motor City. Recently, Maddox was named the biggest surprise player for the offseason by ESPN's Eric Woodyard.
"Detroit added Maddox, an unrestricted free agent, to help with the secondary, and head coach Dan Campbell sees him as a guy who will "fit right in with us" after evaluating him during the offseason program. The Detroit native has looked good so far, impressing Campbell, and he brings a ton of experience as a Super Bowl champion and veteran player, who has spent the past seven seasons in Philadelphia."
"The former fourth-round pick also contributed a role in the Eagles' championship victory with a pass breakup in Super Bowl LIX on Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes during a fourth-down play while appearing in every postseason game."
Postseason experience is critical for a young Detroit team looking to take the next step to glory, so it's refreshing to hear that Maddox has made a huge impact early on for Detroit. Not only will he be motivated to win for his hometown team, but he will have the tools and knowledge to potentially help push his teammates over the top.
Dan Campbell singled out Avonte Maddox as impressive addition
The Lions are enjoying down time before the start of training camp at the end of July, but during their OTA sessions a month ago, Campbell wasted little time letting reporters know about the impressive players he had witnessed on the field.
Maddox's name came up as a stud when the head coach was asked for his list of standouts, and the coach sees both him and Reed being fantastic additions for the backfield.
"I know this, the addition of (D.J.) Reed and (Avonte) Maddox, man, that looks good. Glad we got those guys. They're gonna fit right in with us. So I can go down the list here (of standouts), but those are a couple of guys probably that I think of."
In his career, Maddox has proven a quietly effective contributor in a defensive backfield, given his four interceptions, eight forced fumbles and 270 total tackles. He also has a total of 11 tackles and five passes defended in the playoffs, showing he can step up during crunch time.
Questions have swirled regarding if the Lions have enough on defense for 2025. If a depth player like Maddox is drawing positive attention early, that is a fantastic sign the team could be alright once the season begins.
