By Blessing 
The Detroit Lions are heading into the 2025 season with a clear focus: strengthening their defense. After falling short of a championship, they know there are key areas that need improvement to boost their chances of finally claiming the Lombardi Trophy.
Struggles Against the Pass: 2,524 Air Yards Allowed, 2,106 Yards After Catch
One of the biggest concerns for Detroit last season was their pass defense. They ranked third-worst in the league in air yards allowed on completions and were just two yards away from being the second-worst team in that category.
To address this, the Lions made moves in free agency, signing DJ Reed, Avonte Maddox, and Rock Ya-Sin. Reed’s numbers closely mirrored those of Carlton Davis, a key departure, with both players recording 11 pass breakups and similar PFF coverage grades—72.1 for Davis and 70.1 for Reed. Maddox and Ya-Sin also bring slight upgrades over Kindle Vildor, another offseason loss.