The Detroit Lions have many options when it comes to free agency, and most expect the team to make defensive improvements a major priority when the new league year kicks off.
Beefing up the pass rush is the most important goal for the Lions, but improving the secondary is a similar necessity after a frustrating finish to the season. Free agent Carlton Davis could be pricing his way out of Detroit, which means the Lions may need to scour the cornerback market.
Fortunately, there are plenty of options for the franchise to weigh, and one of the most intriguing is D.J. Reed, formally of the New York Jets. Reed is arguably one of the top cornerbacks on the market given 414 career tackles and six interceptions, and might also be a great fit in Detroit.
Pro Football Focus writer Bradley Locker named the top free agency matches for every team, and due to his style of play, Reed was revealed as the selection for the Lions.
"Last year, Detroit leaned primarily on Cover 1, running it on 33.7% of snaps. Meanwhile, since 2022, Reed’s 70.7 PFF coverage grade in Cover 1 is the 12th best among qualified cornerbacks. Even in a bit of a down season, Reed still enjoyed his staggering sixth straight year with a 70.0-plus PFF coverage grade."
"The Lions’ cornerback room will need reinforcements, given that Carlton Davis III is no longer under contract. With $51 million in cap space and hopes of finally reaching the Super Bowl, Detroit can finance a big-money move like Reed."
Last offseason, the Lions' biggest move at cornerback was the addition of the underrated Davis via trade. In the past, they have settled on value buys to improve the position with mixed results. Could 2025 be the year they decide to gamble biggest on the secondary in free agency?
Detroit Lions must decide whether to spend big at cornerback or pass rusher
With a top 10 cap space total in 2025, the Lions will have freedom to be aggressive when it comes to additions. During his tenure, Brad Holmes has chosen not to spend wildly in free agency, which means it's fair to assume Detroit probably won't spend big in one of the two spots.
The Lions have been mentioned early in the trade market for Myles Garrett, the recently released Joey Bosa and other edge rushers. Pressuring the quarterback has been a big issue for the Lions, especially after Aiden Hutchinson's injury in 2024. Depth up front has lacked, so stacking the defensive line could be the best decision.
When it comes to the secondary, the Lions could make a middle-tier veteran like Darius Slay a priority rather than a top option like Reed, Byron Murphy Jr. or Charvarius Ward. If the pass rush was strong enough, they could conceivably get by on the back end by letting Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw continue to develop with the tutelage of Slay.
Nevertheless, the suggestion early on is that Reed, likely to be one of the top signings at cornerback, fits the Lions best. Whether Holmes will agree or not remains to be seen.