The Detroit Lions have had a busy offseason highlighted by significant turnover, not only losing defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson but undergoing changes on the roster as well.
One of the organization's marquee signings was veteran cornerback D.J. Reed, who comes to Detroit after spending three years with the New York Jets. Reed signed a three-year, $48 million contract to bolster a mediocre position group. He's expected to start alongside former first-round pick Terrion Arnold and promising 2024 second-rounder Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
That said, it's hard to look at his contract and not feel like it's an overpay. In fact, the Lions may already regret signing Reed at an average annual salary of $16 million.
CB DJ Reed on playing for the #Lions:
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βItβs just a growth mindset to get better. Itβs football utopia for me.β
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(H/T: @DetroitPodcast) pic.twitter.com/SDd8oq9Z1q
Lions Already Regretting Signing CB D.J. Reed to $48 Million Contract
To be clear, this stance isn't about Reed as a player. He's a quality defensive back with sustained success on multiple franchises, though he's not worth the price the Lions paid.
Former Green Bay Packers All-Pro Jaire Alexander, for example, signed with the Baltimore Ravens on a $6 million deal with only $4 million guaranteed. Alexander, despite his injury history, is far more accomplished than Reed, and he's a great example of how Detroit likely overpaid for Reed given his age.
Reed will turn 29 during the season, which is typically a turning point for cornerbacks. They fall off a cliff quickly, and it's possible that Reed becomes one of the most overpaid players in the league once it's all said and done. He ranked 42nd out of 222 qualified cornerbacks at Pro Football Focus in 2024, so the production is there, yet the Lions are making a bet on his future output, not his previous work.
If general manager Brad Holmes could turn back the clock, he'd likely prefer signing Alexander at cost over Reed. It's compeltely possible that the contract works out just fine for Detroit, yet it feels like an overpay now that we have the benefit of hindsight.
Hopefully, Reed will prove this take wrong and be a productive partner to All-Pro safety Kerby Joseph. At this point, though, it appears the contract was a mistake.