Carlton Davis‘ free agency defection (to the Patriots) will not go unanswered for even an hour. The Lions have a deal in place with another high-end free agent at the position.
D.J. Reed is heading from Aaron Glenn‘s current team to his former team, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. Viewed by many as the top cornerback in this class, Reed secured $48MM over three years. Although the Lions used first- and second-round picks on corners last year, the team still prioritized a veteran to replace Davis.
PFR’s No. 9 overall free agent, Reed rated as our top corner available. The three-year Sauce Gardner sidekick delivered solid work in New York, but the team has the All-Pro on its extension radar and gave Michael Carter a top-market slot deal last summer. That left Reed set to explore the market, and he will land a second lucrative deal in free agency.
Reed, 28, has shown the value of agreeing to a three-year deal during his first crack at free agency. The former 49ers and Seahawks contributor hit the market a second time and parlayed his age and performance into a raise from the Lions. Reed, who will not turn 30 until November 2026, played out a three-year, $33MM deal with the Jets.
Among boundary corners to start at least 10 games last season, Reed ranked 11th in yards per target (6.4). The same measurement in 2023 places Reed (6.6) 12th. Pro Football Focus ranked Reed 16th among CB regulars in 2023 and 31st in ’24. Gardner soared to the All-Pro level immediately, but Reed provided a solid complementary piece. He will now work opposite Terrion Arnold in Detroit, as the Lions will place a veteran CB deal in a secondary housing rookie contracts at corner and safety (Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph).
The Lions are transitioning to a new DC for the first time in Dan Campbell‘s run, but they ensured continuity in Kelvin Sheppard. Reed brings an important piece for a Lions team that ran into injury trouble in the secondary — via Davis’ late-season broken jaw — and along its defensive line. As Aidan Hutchinson makes his way back to a team that is also hoping Marcus Davenport shakes his recent string of injuries, Sheppard’s secondary could be an imposing one in 2025.
Got him for much cheaper than Carlton Davis? W
Really good player. Good veteran to have in the room. Allows them to play Rakestraw inside.
So now they’ll have DJ Reader and DJ Reed
Great move for both sides.
Reed is an elite #2 corner, and he’s going to a great team that still needed an outside corner opposite Arnold.
Huh? He is the outside corner opposite Arnold.
That’s what he said
That’s literally what I said, you genius.
This was the best signing thus far early into free agency. Immediate starter/contributor on a team that just lost a starting CB, and he was the best at his position in this year’s free agency class. Great move by Brad Holmes not wasting any time.
Love the signing, with that said the secondary is only as good as the pass rush imo. Wonder what Holmes has in mind for replacing Z.Smith and please don’t say Davenport.
I bet you any money Detroit does nothing to shore up our DL. Hey let’s go get another aging/injured WR.lol
That’s Holmes MO