D.J. Reed's solid start with Lions earns significant praise from Dan Campbell

The Detroit Lions knew they had a problem with their secondary after the 2024 season, so they made finding a top-level fix a priority in free agency.

In spite of that mindset, nobody knows how such a player will fit his new team. Many bigger signings end up as overpaid disappointments, but clearly, cornerback D.J. Reed isn't going to find himself in that dubious category given his start in Detroit.

Reed has adjusted fast since joining the Lions, and played well in his first three games with his new team. He's found his groove lately, which was perfectly encapsulated by his Week 3 performance against the Baltimore Ravens.

Defending the Ravens is no easy task, especially as a cornerback. Lamar Jackson often runs wild and has a penchant for extending the play. His ground game has been elite. None of that played out on Monday night, however, due to the Detroit defense.

Lost in the elite performance of several pass rushers against Jackson and Detroit's stout run defense was the work of the secondary. Baltimore didn't have a wide receiver over 70 yards, with Rashad Bateman coming closest. Zay Flowers was locked down, netting only 13 yards on the night.

Reed shadowed Flowers successfully most of the game, and his play was solid enough to earn him one of PFF's top defensive grades for Detroit at 83.0. He would finish with two tackles, and ended up snagging a key fumble recovery late in the game to help change momentum.

Dan Campbell praises Reed's performance and fit with Lions thus far

Reed wiping out Flowers wasn't a surprise to the Lions, because it was the role the team envisioned for him. Campbell believed that in order to win the game, Detroit was going to have to find a way to limit Baltimore's best receiver. Reed got that assignment, and ended up winning the battle as only a veteran can.

"We had our whole checklist of what we wanted to do defensively and certainly one of those was shutting down Zay (Flowers). So, we were going to put Reed on him quite a bit and I thought he did a heck of a job. He's been great for us and really, he's one of the most veteran guys we've had with the exception Amik (Robertson) who we got last year."

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Campbell understands that he can trust Reed in those scenarios, because he has done it for years. As a result, he has quickly earned the trust of the coaching staff thanks to his fit with the franchise.

"He's got skins on he wall. He's a vet. He does it right. He's a pro. He's competitive. He fit right in with us. He comes right in and he's been great for all those guys in the room. He's a great teammate. He's all about ball. So I thought he played his tail off and he's been great for us. He does bring us stability."

Already, Reed is showing comfort with the Lions. It will be fascinating to watch his development within Detroit's scheme as the season wears on. His primetime performance in Week 3 offers hope that the Lions finally have a top-flight cornerback set to blossom.