Lions' best offseason decision could quickly lead to a key defensive resurgence

The Detroit Lions made only one big splash this offseason when they signed cornerback D.J. Reed, but the move could be one that pays off all season long for their defense.

Reed joins a secondary that has been strong overall in recent seasons, but needed a definite boost at his position. He adds some punch to a cornerback room that has endured plenty of questions and frustrations lately.

As such, PFF and writer Dalton Wasserman still like the move for the Lions to sign Reed. It holds up as their best offseason decision the franchise made in 2025 thanks to the immediate potential it offers their defense.

"The Lions lost Carlton Davis III in free agency, which left them without veteran leadership in their cornerback room. Given the struggles of Terrion Arnold in his rookie season and the lack of experienced depth behind him, the team needed to find a stable presence for its outside coverage unit."

"D.J. Reed is the very definition of stability; he has earned at least a 70.0 PFF coverage grade in six straight seasons. If he offers that again and Arnold makes a significant second-year improvement, the Lions’ secondary could become a fearsome unit."

Last year, the Lions had stability in the form of Davis. When he went down late in the season with a jaw injury, that's when Detroit fell apart in terms of pass defense, leading to their playoff collapse. If Reed can provide a similar form of stability and others step up, the Lions could turn one of the weaker points of their roster into a major strength.

Terrion Arnold's development will determine Lions' defensive trajectory

With Reed, the Lions have an established player who is capable of playing a starring role in short order during the 2025 season. If that plays out, it will boost the depth in the backfield and offer Detroit the elite playmaking cornerback they have long craved.

The true wildcard in this discussion, however, is Arnold. He struggled as a rookie in 2024, having an issue with penalties and coverage most of the season. By the end of the year, he started to quietly round into form and could be primed for a bounce-back sophomore season as he learns the league.

If Arnold has a major turn in his play, that could give the Lions a pair of elite cornerbacks to rely on with Reed already in the mix. Many fans have already given up on Arnold, but that could be a mistake, given the work he has done this offseason to improve.

Signing Reed will offer the Lions an important safety net no matter what else happens. As PFF points out, he's been a stable force for any secondary he has played in. That's great news for Detroit as they try to get Arnold rounded into form.

Should Arnold play like the first-round pick he was in 2024 and the stud he looked like in college, the Lions could suddenly generate elite cornerback play thanks to their biggest defensive move.

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