By Blessing 
The Detroit Lions made one of their most notable offseason moves by signing veteran cornerback D.J. Reed. While this addition brings hope, it also came during a time of change, with the team losing key coaches—offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. Their departures raised questions about whether the new hires, John Morton and Kelvin Sheppard, could keep the Lions on track after two strong seasons.
Despite the uncertainty, ESPN analyst Field Yates believes Detroit is in good hands. He acknowledged the challenges the team might face early in the season but emphasized that the Lions have earned a level of trust based on their recent track record.
“I think it would be disingenuous to not at least acknowledge at the beginning of the season if there are changes and if the offense does not come out with its same prolific level of scoring like it has for the past couple of seasons under Ben Johnson,” Yates said. “At the same time, if I’ve learned one thing about this Lions franchise under Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell, it’s that they deserve the benefit of the doubt.”
Yates is especially optimistic about what D.J. Reed brings to the defense. While Reed may not stand out on the stat sheet with interceptions, his tough, physical style of play aligns well with the Lions’ defensive identity. According to Yates, the addition of Reed is more than just a roster change—it’s an upgrade over Carlton Davis, who left after just one season to join the New England Patriots.
“A transition that many would see as a challenge, I think the Lions are embracing (it) with a ton of internal confidence,” Yates noted. “And I’ll say this, the defense, other than the fact that they’re way healthier, they’re just more talented this year. I thought the upgrade of D.J. Reed at that second cornerback spot to play in place of Carlton Davis is one that will help this defense look much more like it did at the beginning of last season.”
With several injured players returning and Reed stepping in as a steady, reliable presence, Detroit’s defense could be poised to recapture the spark it showed early last year. If Yates is right, the Lions won’t just survive this transition—they might come out of it even stronger.