Detroit Lions Secure D.J. Reed with Thrilling Three-Year Contract
The Detroit Lions have successfully snagged cornerback D.J. Reed on a lucrative three-year deal worth $48 million, according to sources reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. This savvy move by the Lions comes quickly on the heels of losing starting cornerback Carlton Davis III. Davis is headed to the New England Patriots under a separate three-year agreement valued at $60 million, with $34.5 million fully guaranteed, insiders revealed to Schefter.
This marks Reed’s second opportunity to explore free agency. Back in 2022, he inked a three-year, $33 million pact with the New York Jets. The signing seemed substantial for a player with just one full starting season — with the Seattle Seahawks in 2021 — but Reed soon solidified his place as one of the Jets’ standout defenders. As the secondary choice aside from the renowned Sauce Gardner, Reed thrived, adeptly handling responsibilities in both zone and man-to-man defensive strategies. Despite standing at just 5-foot-9, he impressively defended 32 passes from 2022 through 2024.
With the Jets, Reed was generally assigned to the right side, often facing off against top rival receivers. Despite this challenge, he performed commendably, surrendering only an 80.4 passer rating — ranking him 19th out of 77 cornerbacks (each with a minimum of 250 coverage snaps), as per NFL Next Gen Stats. However, Reed’s stats reveal just six interceptions over his seven-season career, and he’s accumulated 21 accepted penalties over the last three years. This includes pass-interference penalties totaling 185 yards — the sixth most in the league — with eight such penalties leading the team in 2024.
Reed entered the NFL as a fifth-round draft pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 2018. His career saw a pivotal shift when the Seattle Seahawks claimed him off waivers in 2020. Under the tutelage of then-Seattle coach Pete Carroll, Reed began to dramatically redefine his career. Across 101 games, Reed has made an impact with 70 starts, demonstrating consistency and skill. The Lions are poised to benefit from his experience and defensive prowess.”