The Detroit Lions are closing in on a deal with veteran cornerback D.J. Reed in 2025 NFL free agency, according to the Free Press.
The agreement reportedly would be a three-year contract worth $48 million, and would include $32 million guaranteed, according to Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
Reed, 28, played for the New York Jets last season, collecting 64 tackles. He replaces Carlton Davis III, who minutes earlier reportedly agreed to a $60 million contract with the New England Patriots.
Reed has six career interceptions across seven seasons. He spend his first two years with San Francisco, drafted in the fifth round in 2018, then moved to Seattle for two years. He started 46 games with the Jets the past three seasons on one of the league’s top defenses.
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As news broke, Reed tweeted: “Detroit!!” But he deleted the post shortly after. Pending free agents cannot officially sign with new teams until Wednesday at 4 p.m. when the new league year opens. The legal negotiating window opened Monday at noon to agree to deals.
Reed joins a Lions squad that finished the regular season 15-2 last year and is desperate to build on its regular season success with another postseason run after falling short.
The Lions were upset by the Washington Commanders in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs after their franchise-best regular season.
What followed was an offseason of immediate turnover, with both coordinators leaving to take head coaching jobs, as Ben Johnson stayed in the division to lead the Chicago Bears, while Aaron Glenn went to the NFC to take over the New York Jets.
While the Lions maintain much of the same core from last year’s team that ran through the NFC, general manager Brad Holmes will be tasked with continuing to improve the roster while taking care of the players they drafted as well.
Holmes said at the NFL combine that the Lions “probably” wouldn’t be able to add a high-end pass rusher to play alongside Aidan Hutchinson and eventually Alim McNeill once he returns from a torn ACL. Two of those top names have already seemingly come off the market, with Maxx Crosby and Myles Garrett both getting contracts from their respective teams.
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Shoring up the defense has been a top priority for the Lions after injuries ravaged the unit last year, but of course keeping the offensive unit as a strength is important as well. It’s something Holmes must balance through the NFL draft, free agency and possibly the trade market this offseason.
The Lions have already re-signed three players and released one. Holmes gave new deals to edge rusher Marcus Davenport, linebacker Derrick Barnes and special teams ace Ezekiel Turner, and released edge rusher Za’Darius Smith.
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