By Moses Joshua 
Amid Departures and Uncertainty, One Savvy Signing Could Anchor Lions’ Defense in 2025
A Bleak Offseason in Detroit—With One Clear Bright Spot
The Detroit Lions entered the 2025 offseason as a team in flux. After ascending to NFC elite status in recent years, they now find themselves reeling from a talent drain that stripped away both top-tier coaching minds and valuable players. The departures of coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, along with key contributors on both sides of the ball, left fans questioning whether the window for a Super Bowl run was already starting to slide shut.
Suddenly, what felt like a secure grip on the NFC North now appears tenuous at best.
In the midst of this chaos, however, one move has emerged as a rare—and crucial—offseason win. CBS Sports recently pinpointed it with refreshing clarity: the addition of veteran cornerback D.J. Reed.
“You could make an argument for the promotion of Kelvin Sheppard to defensive coordinator… But that’s partially because he’s got a proven cover man in Reed, whose arrival from the New York Jets should offset Carlton Davis’ exit, easing the burdens of youngsters like Terrion Arnold,” wrote CBS.
D.J. Reed: A Reliable Defensive Anchor
For a team whose secondary has battled inconsistency and injury in recent seasons, Reed brings the kind of dependability that can’t be overstated. Since entering the league in 2018, he’s started 70 of 101 games and remained remarkably durable—appearing in at least 14 games in six of his seven NFL seasons.
That kind of reliability alone is worth its weight in gold for a Lions team that struggled to field a healthy and cohesive unit last year. Add to that his consistent Pro Football Focus grades across multiple teams—including San Francisco, Seattle, and most recently the Jets—and it’s clear why GM Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell pulled the trigger.
More Than Just a Patch Job
The signing isn’t just about plugging a hole. It’s about reinforcing a defense that will now be led by rising coaching talent Kelvin Sheppard. Reed’s experience and veteran savvy will be critical as Sheppard transitions into his first season as defensive coordinator, and especially in helping to groom highly touted rookie corner Terrion Arnold.
In a year when Lions fans have been grasping for positives, this move stands tall. It doesn’t erase the sting of the offseason’s losses, but it does give Detroit a fighting chance to maintain the aggressive, gritty identity Dan Campbell has instilled from day one.
A Sign of Stability in a Sea of Change
Let’s face it—Lions fans haven’t had much to celebrate in recent months. But the addition of D.J. Reed isn’t just window dressing. It’s a quietly savvy move that could have an outsized impact come September.
So yes, training camp can’t get here fast enough. And while expectations may be tempered in light of all the turnover, Detroit still has fight left in them—especially if Reed delivers the way he has throughout his career.
In a forgettable offseason, this move is one Detroit won’t regret.