After their performance in 2024, the Detroit Lions' secondary's future is bright. Young players such as Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph, and Terrion Arnold are the core of the team going forward. Meanwhile, veterans Carlton Davis and Amik Robertson really solidified the unit.
However, with Davis's likely exit in free agency this offseason, Detroit has a key hole to fill. In 2024, Davis was the Lions' top cornerback, so losing him is a huge blow to their improved secondary. Although Arnold was drafted to fill the No.1 cornerback role, he still may need some more time to develop into that role.
As a result, Detroit must consider bringing in another veteran cornerback to try and fill that role. Luckily, according to Underdog NFL on X, negotiations between the New York Jets and D.J. Reed have resulted in Reed being expected to hit the free agent market. Detroit must do whatever they can to sign Reed this offseason.
CB DJ Reed not expected to re-sign with the Jets, per @Connor_J_Hughes.
— Underdog NFL (@Underdog__NFL) March 2, 2025
The Detroit Lions Must Target D.J. Reed This Offseason
Reed was a former fifth-round selection of the San Francisco 49ers in 2018. Unfortunately, entering training camp in 2020, Reed was placed on the non-football-related injury list and was later waived on August 4, 2020.
Nonetheless, Reed was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Seahawks on August 5, 2020, and played the 2020 and 2021 seasons with the team. During those two seasons, Reed started 22 games, recording 140 tackles, 17 pass deflections, and four interceptions. Furthermore, Reed was the 27th-ranked cornerback ( 73.1 overall grade) in 2020 and the 14th-ranked cornerback (78.6 overall grade) in 2021, according to PFF.
Those back-to-back stellar seasons earned the then-25-year-old a three-year, $33 million deal with the Jets. Over his last three seasons in New York, Reed has continued to be a solid corner opposite of Sauce Gardner. In three seasons, Reed had recorded 202 tackles, 32 pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions.
Moreover, the 28-year-old has consistently been one of the better cover cornerbacks in the NFL during his time in New York. In 2022, Reed's coverage grade was 16th best (77.5), and in 2023, his coverage grade was 24th best (79.5), according to PFF.
This past season was Reed's worst season in coverage, ranking 47th with a 70.1 grade. While that ranking isn't great, that's still pretty solid coverage.
That said, Spotrac estimates that Reed will sign a four-year, $58.6 million deal this offseason. That would mean he is earning an AAV of $14.7 million per season, which is more than Davis is expected to receive.
Even though these are just projections, it wouldn't make sense for the Lions to go after Reed if they are out on Davis because of the money. If that's not the case, though, Detroit should absolutely pursue Reed this offseason.