After losing Carlton Davis to the New England Patriots earlier in the day, the Detroit Lions are signing Jets cornerback D. J. Reed to a three-year contract.
Detroit Lions Acquire D.J. Reed In Free Agency
Although the exact terms are unknown, the deal is rumored per ESPN to be in the neighborhood of $48 million or roughly $16 million per year. A seven-year veteran cornerback, Reed is expected to replace Davis, who is rumored to have agreed to a three-year, $60 million contract with New England. Despite a personally frustrating season with the Jets, Reed recorded 64 combined tackles with one sack last year.
Reed The Early Years
A 28-year-old Bakersfield, CA native, Reed attended Kansas State University, where he was both a cornerback and kick return specialist. In his junior year in 2017, he appeared in 11 of 13 games, recording 47 tackles, four interceptions, nine pass defenses, and one forced fumble.
As a return specialist, he caught 17 punts for 253 yards with one touchdown, and 17 kickoffs for 582 yards and one touchdown that season. A team captain, Reed was named first-team All-Big 12 as a cornerback and second-team All-Big 12 as a return specialist.
Reed’s Pro Career
After declaring for the 2018 NFL Draft, Reed was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round. He was with the team when they lost the Super Bowl 31-20 to the Kansas City Chiefs. However, shortly afterward, Reed was placed on the active/non-football injury list on July 28, 2020.
Claimed off waivers by the Seattle Seahawks, he was activated on October 31, 2020, to replace the Seahawks injured cornerback, Quinton Dunbar. After impressing the coaching staff with two critical interceptions, Reed remained the starting cornerback even after Dunbar’s return.
In March, 2022, Reed signed his contract with the Jets. Playing alongside the Jets Defensive Player of the Year, Sauce Gardner, Reed provided a solid compliment to the superstar cornerback. He averaged 59 tackles per year in his three years with New York.
Comparing Reed To Lions’ History With Davis
Until his injury last year, Davis was a perfect compliment to Detroit’s defense. The former Tampa Bay Buccaneer signed a one-year agreement with Detroit before the 2024 season. A member of the Buccaneers Super Bowl-winning team with Tom Brady, Davis is a feisty, aggressive player. Missing the last four games of the Lions season after fracturing his jaw, he appeared in 13 games and recorded 56 tackles (40 solo), two interceptions and defended 11 passes. He also had one forced fumble. Losing Davis in week 15 against the Buffalo Bills was another brutal loss for Detroit’s injury-plagued defense.
Lions General Manager Brad Holmes may have lost out on retaining Davis but in a direct comparison of both players, there are a lot of similarities. Both players are 28 years old and seven-year veterans of multiple NFL teams. Throughout his career, Davis appeared in 89 games, recording 380 tackles, 11 interceptions, 84 passes defended, and four forced fumbles.
Over the same period, Reed recorded 414 combined tackles, six interceptions, and defended 51 passes. He leaves the Jets after signing a three-year $33 million agreement in 2022.
Lions Plan for Reed
The Lions are Reed’s fourth team in seven years. As a starting cornerback, he’ll be paired with second-year players Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw, and veteran cornerback Amik Robertson.
Reed was frustrated last season with the chaos and drama surrounding the Jets. He wants to play hard and be with a winning organization. The Lions need a quality talent who fits their team dynamic. Early indications suggest that the Lions’ acquisition of Reed is another home run for Holmes. Several writers who are well acquainted with Reed say he’s a great fit for the team and a positive presence in the locker room. It appears the Lions have another great player in Reed.
Main Photo: Tina MacIntyre – Imagn Images
