According to RJ Kraft and Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Detroit Lions signed D.J. Reed to a three-year, $48 million contract on Monday, making him one of the top free agent corners available.
Reed, 28, has been with the Jets for three years and spent two with the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks.
The Lions needed secondary help after Carlton Davis left, and they acquired one of the best options they could find, despite the fact that it was a very expensive contract for them at around $16 million per year.
Reed isn’t a superstar, but he’s been a dependable performer for most of his career. The Lions play a LOT of man defense in the secondary due to their high blitz rates, and Reed ranked 28th out of all corners playing man last season, according to Pro Football Focus. He’s an excellent fit for the defense, with the size and coverage ability to play across from Terrion Arnold and boost a unit that ranked 30th in passing yards allowed last season.
Furthermore, Reed’s presence relieves burden on Detroit’s still-developing rookie cornerbacks, Ennis Rakestraw and Amik Robinson, who will most likely share nickelback duties. Both have potential and had some promise last year, but they have also been burnt on multiple occasions and require more time to properly grow and become consistent, trustworthy performers. Reed’s presence in the secondary provides them just that.
The Lions’ championship opportunity is right now. They have one of the most entertaining offenses in the NFL, as well as a defense that showed promise in many areas until being destroyed by injuries late in the season. The moment has come to take big swings to fix gaps, and Reed symbolizes such an endeavor.
Given his skill set and the Lions’ defensive style, this could not be a better match.
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