By Blessing 
D.J. Reed isn’t shy about how he views his place among NFL defensive backs — he believes he’s playing at a rare level.
The Detroit Lions clearly agree, signing the talented cornerback to a three-year contract this offseason. By locking him in long-term, the team is signaling that they see Reed as a foundational piece in their secondary. He might not have jaw-dropping interception numbers, but his physical, relentless style perfectly matches the identity Detroit wants on defense.
What makes Reed stand out even more is his stature — at just 5-foot-9, he thrives in a league dominated by taller receivers. And Reed fully embraces his uniqueness.
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“I’ve got respect for everybody, but respectfully I feel like I’m a unicorn, you feel me?” he said during a CBS Sports interview. “There ain’t really too many 5’9” guys in the league doing what I’m doing, especially at the level of how I play. I feel like I’m definitely different.”
Reed also shared that one of his top goals for the 2025 season is to become more of a playmaker in the air. After finishing last year without an interception, he’s focused on disrupting quarterbacks and generating more turnovers.
When asked why he chose Detroit, Reed pointed to two major factors. The first was the opportunity to join forces with safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch — a duo he believes could be the best in the NFL.
“Detroit, I definitely was excited about the safeties that I’m playing with,” Reed explained. “That’s gonna make my job easier when you’ve got two guys that can roam, get the ball, come down and hit. That’s just a different level of trust, when you’re playing with two guys that are All-Pros.”
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The second reason? Head coach Dan Campbell’s fearless attitude.
“And then also, just the way that Dan Campbell, the way that he plays to win. He’s going for it on fourth-and-5, he don’t give two (expletives) about what anyone thinks,” Reed said. “He’s gonna play to win, he’s not ever going to play scared. Scared money don’t make money, so I definitely love how aggressive he is.”
Between elite teammates and a bold coach, Reed sees Detroit as the perfect place to take his game to the next level.