Lions Quickly Move on $48 Million Vet to Replace Star Defender

The Detroit Lions have already snagged a replacement for star defender Carlton Davis, who they’re losing to the Patriots.

The Detroit Lions and the rest of the NFL are coming up on the free agency period, which officially starts with the new league year on Wednesday, March 12, at 4 p.m. Eastern time. But, even with free agency a few days away, moves are being made now, because the NFL’s “legal tampering period” starts on Monday, March 10, at 12 noon Eastern time and runs until Wednesday, March 12, at 12:59 p.m.

It’s been a busy few hours for the Detroit Lions, who lost star defender Carlton Davis to the New England Patriots and have already signed his replacement.

Detroit Lions Welcome D.J. Reed

The Lions made a strong move on Monday by welcoming Reed into the fold. According to NFL insider and expert Jordan Schultz, Reed will sign a three-year, $48 million contract with $32 million in guaranteed money. The move is a significant one for Reed, who has mainly been the No. 2 cornerback for his career, playing with the Seattle, New York and San Francisco, and will now have a higher profile role with the Lions.

“One of the top corners on the market lands a lucrative deal in Detroit,” Schultz stated on X.

Reed has a PFF grade of at least 70.0 and has played in the NFL for six consecutive seasons.

“He and All-Pro Sauce Gardner formed one of the best cornerback tandems in the league, and he will be looking to bring that same edge over to Detroit,” notes Mike Luciano of SideLion Report in a March 10 feature.

More Moves from the Detroit Lions

The Lions have been making moves before this week, too. On Friday, March 7, they inked linebacker Derrick Barnes to an extension. His deal is a three-year, $25.5 million contract extension. Following that move, they re-signed veteran linebacker Anthony Pittman to a one-year contract, as well as linebacker Ezekiel Turner.

Turner was signed by the Lions during the 2024 season, first appearing on their practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster following a rash of Detroit Lions injuries. Before coming to the Motor City, Turner was with the Arizona Cardinals for six seasons.

Special teams coordinator Dave Fipp spoken highly or Turning, telling the Detroit Football Network last December, “When I was in Philly, and he was in Arizona, we played against each other a handful of games and I always thought he was a very good player. But even better than that for us was actually just the fit.”

Fipp added that the way he covers and “plays the game is very similar to Jalen Reeves-Maybin, so it was like just a natural slide in and fit.” With that in mind, Fipp explained that “it was an easy decision for us.”

They’ve also made some cuts. According to NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, the team is releasing veteran defensive end Za’Darius Smith, so he’ll be available to start negotiating with new teams on Monday, March 10, and will be able to sign a new contract later in the week. These are the first of what will likely be plenty of moves on the part of the Lions during this free agency period.

Terrion Arnold Welcomes Newest Lions Defensive Back With 3-Word Message

The Detroit Lions lost defensive back Carlton Davis III to the New England Patriots on Monday, a little less than four months after Davis III suffered a broken jaw against the Buffalo Bills in a 48-42 Lions loss at Ford Field.

Davis’ injury came roughly a month prior to the Lions’ loss of fellow starting cornerback Amik Robertson during a painful playoff loss to the Washington Commanders.

The free agency loss of Davis III was followed by the signing of former New York Jets cornerback DJ Reed, who will now head to the Detroit Lions in hopes of replacing the fan favorite and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers stalwart.

Following the Reed signing, Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold welcomed him with a customary Detroit greeting.

“What up Doe!!!” Arnold wrote in response to Reed’s boast of “Detroit!!”

Arnold’s excitement over the Reed signing followed his thoughts on linebacker Derrick Barnes, who the Lions decided to bring back to the Motor City just days earlier.

“Yessir!!” Arnold wrote in response to the Barnes signing.

The Lions’ recent free agent decisions haven’t all been popular with the team’s fanbase, including their recent choice to release former trade acquisition Za’Darius Smith.

The addition of Reed gives Detroit a proven veteran who will could become a force on new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard’s unit for years to come.

Lions Predicted to Lose 2 Key Players to Division Rival

A Detroit Lions DT makes sense for the New England Patriots in free agency thanks to new defensive coordinator Terrell Williams.

The Detroit Lions lost offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to a head coaching job at a divisional rival this offseason, and a pair of key players could soon be following him.

Johnson took over as coach of the Chicago Bears after the conclusion of the season, a big loss to the Lions as the team had built one of the league’s top offenses over the last two seasons under Johnson. Jared Ramsey of the Detroit Free Press suggests Johnson could have his eye on a pair of Lions headed to free agency this week.

Bears Could Snag Lions Linemen

Ramsey suggested Johnson’s Bears could look to boost both sides of the line, starting with defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike. The Bears ranked near the bottom of the league in rushing defense last season and would need a counterpart to defensive end Montez Sweat, Ramsey wrote.

“Onwuzurike stayed fully healthy for the Lions and moved between defensive tackle and defensive end,” Ramsey wrote. “He is one of the top interior defensive linemen available on the open market, and is projected to receive $8 million per year on a new deal, according to Over The Cap.”

Ramsey also predicted the Bears could make a run at versatile lineman Dan Skipper, who was often used as an extra lineman on running plays and even as a target in the red zone.

“Skipper, the Lions’ sixth offensive lineman in jumbo sets and backup tackle behind Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker, could be another option. The Bears need depth on the offensive line even after making a few trades to upgrade the front,” Ramsey wrote. “Skipper has been a locker room and fan favorite in Detroit, ‘the most popular scrub’ in football and a part of trick plays under Johnson the past few seasons, even catching a touchdown against Buffalo.”

Lions Could Also Target Line

The Lions have taken a careful approach to roster building that, combined with strong drafting, has left few roster holes headed into free agency this year. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press noted that the biggest need for the Lions is on the defensive line, with Onwuzurike expected to be the biggest departure.

The Lions lost defensive linemen Alim McNeill and Mekhi Wingo to season-ending injuries that will likely impact their preparations and could keep McNeill off the field to start the season, Birkett added.

He noted that the Lions could take aim at some of the veteran linemen available in free agency, including Calais Campbell of the Miami Dolphins and Sebastian Joseph-Day of the Tennessee Titans. The Lions could also use a high draft pick to address the position, Birkett added.

“The Lions won’t sit tight, obviously,” Birkett wrote. “They need to add at least one starting-caliber interior defender in free agency or the draft. It’s a deep draft at the position and there are some capable interior rushers available in free agency. Onwuzurike still could return, and at a minimum the Lions need to restock their depth with low-budget veterans like [restricted free agent Pat O’Connor].”

Lions Named ‘Perfect’ Fit for Top Free Agent Cornerback

New York Jets cornerback DJ Reed reacting in the middle of an NFL game.
The Detroit Lions are expected to undergo some changes on defense with the departure of defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, though one area of focus will likely remain constant — the need to upgrade the secondary.

The Lions have made steady improvements on a unit that was once the worst in the league, investing high draft picks and bringing on some high-profile veterans. But with the Lions potentially losing last year’s No. 1 cornerback to free agency, one insider suggests they will take a swing on the best free agent corner on the market this year.

Lions Predicted to Add Veteran CB
Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus named “perfect” free agency fits for all 32 NFL teams, pegging New York Jets cornerback D.J. Reed as the best option for the Lions. Locker noted that the Lions are expected to keep the same basic defense in place as linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard was promoted to defensive coordinator, and Reed would fit the scheme well.

“As the Lions transition away from defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to in-house successor Kelvin Sheppard, the backbone of their defensive structure isn’t yet known — but it’s fair to assume that most of the fundamentals will remain in place,” Locker wrote. “Either way, adding arguably the top cornerback on the market in Reed wouldn’t hurt.”

Locker noted that the Lions ran a lot of Cover 1 in their secondary in 2024, an area where Reed excelled.

“Meanwhile, since 2022, Reed’s 70.7 PFF coverage grade in Cover 1 is the 12th best among qualified cornerbacks,” Locker wrote. “Even in a bit of a down season, Reed still enjoyed his staggering sixth straight year with a 70.0-plus PFF coverage grade.”

Reed has a total of 414 total tackles over his seven NFL seasons with six interceptions, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. As Locker noted, he is considered one of the top cornerbacks in free agency this offseason.

Lions Need Help in the Secondary
The Lions will likely have a big hole to fill in their secondary this offseason with last year’s top cornerback Carlton Davis III headed to free agency on March 12. Davis took to social media to send a cryptic message hinting that he wants a big deal this year.

“I won’t make the same mistake twice,” Davis shared in a post on X. “If you want your defense upgraded yall know who to pay. Turn on the tape.”

Reporter Ben Rolfe of Pro Football Talk suggested Davis could land with the rival Minnesota Vikings, fitting their scheme as well as their price range.

“The Minnesota Vikings need to fill many holes in their secondary,” Rolfe wrote. “The problem for Minnesota is they also have holes at guard, running back, and on their defensive line.

“The positive for the Vikings is that they have cap space to try to fill many of these holes. An intriguing cornerback prospect for them is Carlton Davis, who has a projected contract value of under $14 million per year. That is a much better projection than bringing back [Byron] Murphy at an AAV of over $22 million per year and could allow them to double up on veteran options at the position.”

Lions Predicted to Address Biggest Weakness With 9-Time Pro Bowl Addition

Khalil Mack is rumored to be on the trade block once again. Is a reunion with the Chicago Bears possible?
The Detroit Lions suffered a major blow to their pass rush when Aidan Hutchinson went down with a season-ending injury in October, struggling afterward to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

The problems culminated with an early playoff exit where the Lions gave up 43 points to the Washington Commanders in the divisional round, allowing rookie Jayden Daniels to throw for 299 yards with two touchdowns and no sacks.

One insider believes the Lions could boost the unit in the offseason, targeting an 11-year veteran with a proven track record of generating pressure off the edge.

Lions Look to Make Splash in Free Agency
Reporter Tim Twentyman of the team’s official website broke down a list of potential offseason additions, noting that linebacker Khalil Mack could be a strong fit in Detroit. Twentyman noted that Mack would be able to give the Lions a complement to Hutchinson that they’ve been seeking for the past two years.

“The 11-year veteran can still get after the quarterback and stop the run,” Twentyman wrote. “Mack would be part of a pass-rush trio in Detroit alongside Hutchinson and Za’Darius Smith where he won’t be asked to play every down at 34 years old. He proved last year he could still make a difference (6.0 sacks and 15 QB hits) and could make a run at Super Bowl with Detroit on a short-term deal.”

Mack is a nine-time Pro Bowler and three-time All Pro, registering at least 6.0 sacks in all but his rookie season.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell has been open about the team’s need to improve their pass rush, stressing during the season that the lack of consistent pressure was holding back the team. After a 31-29 win over the Minnesota Vikings in October, Campbell said the struggles in the pass rush were putting extra pressure on the secondary.

“There were some things where our coverage really had to — we asked them to do a lot, and they had to hold on a little bit,” Campbell said, via 97.1 The Ticket. “There was a number of things where we fabricated some rush, we got there a few times. To answer your question, we need just a little bit more. There was a couple of (pass plays) that did get long, a couple of these plays that you like to believe we can get somebody there just a little bit sooner.”

Lions Could Target Super Bowl Champion
Twentyman suggested some other potential additions for the Lions, including Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams. Twentyman noted that Williams came through in the clutch during the team’s Super Bowl run, though would likely come in at a cost higher than the Lions might be willing to pay.

“Williams was the best player upfront on defense during Philadelphia’s playoff run to a Super Bowl title,” Twentyman wrote. “He had 5.0 sacks and 10 quarterback hits as a rotational player during the regular season and two more sacks in the playoffs. The only problem is he’s set to have a big market at only 26 years old and could potentially cost more than the Lions are willing to spend in free agency this offseason.”