The Detroit Lions didn’t waste any time landing a new starting cornerback for their secondary.
The Lions agreed to a three-year, $48 million deal with New York Jets cornerback D.J. Reed as a replacement for Carlton Davis at the start of the free agent negotiating period Monday.
Reed’s agency, Athlete’s First, posted details of the deal on Instagram. According to Fox Sports, the deal includes $32 million guaranteed.
Davis, the Lions’ No. 1 cornerback last season, agreed to a three-year, $60 million deal with the New York Jets shortly after noon on Monday, his agency posted on Instagram.
Davis and Reed share the same agency.
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Free agents cannot sign with new teams until 4 p.m. Wednesday.
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Reed, 28, started at least 14 games each of the past three seasons for the Jets after playing his first four NFL seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. He allowed one touchdown last season on 59 targets and led all Jets defenders who appeared in at least 10 games in passer rating against (80.4) and percent of tight-window throws forced (37.3%).
The Lions overhauled their secondary last spring, trading for Davis, signing Amik Robertson in free agency and taking Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw with their first two draft picks.
Davis played most of the season as the team’s No. 1 cornerback before breaking his jaw in a December loss to the Buffalo Bills and missing the rest of the season. Arnold started 15 games as a rookie, but finished with zero interceptions and was one of the most penalized players in the NFL. Rakestraw played sparingly as a rookie because of injuries. And Robertson played well while splitting his time between slot and outside cornerback, but broke his arm in the Commanders game.
Reed was considered one of the top man-coverage defenders available in free agency and should pair with Arnold and Robertson in the Lions’ starting lineup this fall. .Just 5 feet 9, he has played primarily at outside cornerback in his NFL career.
The Lions finished 30th in the NFL in pass defense last season, but return most of their starters from their 15-2 team that won the NFC North and was eliminated in the divisional round of the playoffs.
They re-signed projected defensive starters Derrick Barnes and Marcus Davenport before the start of the free agent negotiating period, and have one remaining unsigned player who started more than 10 games last season, defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike.
Reed posted Monday afternoon on the social media site X, “Detroit!!,” but later deleted the post.
The Lions remain in the market for help on the defensive line and at offensive guard, and need a No. 3 receiver and backup safety if Tim Patrick and Ifeatu Melifonwu leave in free agency.
Dave Birkett is the author of the book, “Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline.” Order your copy here. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
