The Detroit Lions ended last season with a bitter taste—watching their playoff run end in a loss to the Commanders. One glaring issue? A banged-up secondary that didn’t look like itself by the final whistle.
But heading into 2025, things are looking a whole lot different. After losing cornerback Carlton Davis III to the Patriots, Detroit added former Jets standout D.J. Reed to the mix. And it didn’t take long for Reed to dish out some serious compliments to his new teammates during OTAs in Allen Park.
“You could argue Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph are the best safeties in the NFL right now,” Reed said. “And Amik Robertson? Best nickel in the league.”
That’s no small praise coming from a guy who held his own last season with 52 solo tackles and 11 pass breakups. Now, he joins a Lions secondary known for being opportunistic—Branch with his forced fumbles, Joseph with his knack for picks, and Robertson locking up elite receivers (just ask Justin Jefferson).
There’s a new face calling the shots too. With Aaron Glenn now with the Jets, the Lions promoted linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard to defensive coordinator. But with this group of DBs, the expectations remain sky-high.
If Reed can soak up the Lions’ ball-hawking mentality and turn that into game-changing plays of his own, don’t be surprised if Detroit ends up fielding the most dangerous secondary in football this season.
Lions’ Revamped Secondary Already Turning Heads—‘Best in the League’ Talk Begins
