The Detroit Lions have built their foundation on finding the right players and developing them. A homegrown roster headlined by Amon-Ra St. Brown, Aiden Hutchinson and others transformed the Lions from perennial doormat to Super Bowl contender and it figures to stay that way heading into the 2025 season.
But even the best teams in the NFL need some help from free agency. The Lions didn’t make a lot of splashy moves, preferring to save their money to keep their core intact. Yet there’s one new arrival who has big expectations and has already gotten off to a great start in Detroit.
Lions CB D.J. Reed Making an Impact on and off the Field
The Lions made a big splash in free agency when they signed cornerback D.J. Reed from the New York Jets. The 28-year-old was the latest attempt by Detroit to add a veteran presence to the secondary and it came with one of the most consistent cornerbacks in the NFL, posting a Pro Football Focus grade over 70 in each of the past six seasons.
“He’s got cover ability. He can play man-to-man. Let’s start there,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell said of Reed last April. “But then he’ll bite on the perimeter, right? He’ll come up. He’ll tackle. He’ll squeeze the edges. And then when you see him in press, man, he challenges. He’s not giving you free release. He’ll mix it up. And then he’ll challenge you at the catch point. Man, he’s feisty. He’s competitive.”
Reed’s on-the-field presence is something that has already endeared him to teammates, but so has his presence off the field. Terrion Arnold is coming off a strong rookie season after learning under former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, but after Glenn departed to become the head coach of the Jets, Reed could be the one to take on the mentorship role and help the Alabama product enjoy a second-year breakout.
“Another reason I believe Arnold is due for a breakout year is Reed,” The Athletic’s Colton Pouncy wrote at the end of OTAs. “Reed is going to set an unbelievable tone for Arnold. His work ethic is among the best on this roster, and that’s saying something. He takes his preparation seriously and is a true professional when it comes to taking care of his body, knowing his assignments and paving the way for others. It’s helped him outplay his draft slot and maximize everything he has as an undersized corner. Oh, by the way, he’s been one of the most consistent players at his position for a few years now. I didn’t know if the Lions would have the budget to sign a corner like Reed, but kudos to them for stepping up to get him.”
If Reed’s impressions carry over into the regular season, it would be a huge boost for a Lions defense that allowed the third-most passing yards per game (244.0) last season. But it also could be the key to unlocking the rest of the secondary as Detroit makes another push toward the Super Bowl.
