The Detroit Lions have wasted no time filling their void at cornerback. After losing cornerback Carlton Davis III to the New England Patriots, the Lions quickly secured a replacement by signing free agent D.J. Reed to a three-year, $48 million contract, per multiple reports.
Carlton Davis III Replaced by D.J. Reed
The 28-year-old Reed spent the past three seasons with the New York Jets. A two-time first-team All-American (2017), Reed quietly became a key piece in one of the league’s best secondaries. Teamed with Sauce Gardner, Reed held his own as a reliable cover corner, even though Gardner garnered most of the headlines.
Originally a fifth-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 2018, Reed bounced around before finding stability in New York. He was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Seahawks in 2020 before signing a three-year, $33 million deal with the Jets in 2022. Over his career, Reed has recorded six interceptions and 51 passes defensed.
Now, Reed joins a Lions secondary with a $48 million contract for three years. With Davis gone, Reed steps in as an experienced presence alongside Amik Robertson, who emerged as Detroit’s top corner after Davis suffered a season-ending jaw injury in December.
The Lions also have two young corners from the 2024 draft — first-rounder Terrion Arnold and second-rounder Ennis Rakestraw Jr. For now, Arnold is expected to remain a starter, but Rakestraw’s role is still developing after an injury-plagued rookie season.
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The 5’9″, 195-pound cornerback tallied 64 tackles and 11 pass breakups, even while battling injuries. Reed missed three games due to injury, and quarterbacks completed just 57.1% of passes when he was on the field.
Detroit frequently employs nickel packages to take advantage of the playmaking abilities of safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch. With Reed likely playing inside, his addition could create new possibilities for the Lions’ defense post-Aaron Glenn.
This will be a new beginning for him after a disappointing 2024 season with the Jets where his exit seemed inevitable. He suggested that he wanted to leave in an interview with Tyler Dunne of Go Long. “I’m ready to go to free agency, bro. I’m ready to see what’s next for me,” Reed shared.
With the Jets undergoing a front-office rebuild, the timing was right for both parties. Now in Detroit, Reed has another chance to prove himself — this time as a crucial part of a rising Lions squad.