By Blessing 
Lions Film Study: What D.J. Reed Adds to Detroit’s Defense
The Detroit Lions wasted no time making a splash in free agency this offseason. Their first major move was locking in cornerback D.J. Reed with a three-year deal worth up to $48 million. With Carlton Davis III heading to the New England Patriots, Reed is expected to step in as a key starter at outside cornerback in 2025 and beyond.
To get a better feel for what Reed brings to the table, I dove into four of his games from the 2024 season with the New York Jets. What stood out confirmed much of what Jets fans and analysts have been saying—Reed is a tough, intelligent, and technically sound defensive back who embraces every challenge thrown his way.
Physically, he’s a smooth athlete with fluid movement in his backpedal and the ability to flip his hips effortlessly. He can run with most of the league’s faster receivers and, maybe more importantly, he plays with a sharp mind and quick instincts. Let’s break down the tape and explore how Reed fits into the Lions’ revamped secondary.
Sticky Coverage and Ball Skills
According to Next Gen Stats, Reed forced tight-window throws on 37.3% of his targets in 2024, ranking him fourth-highest in the NFL. I didn’t even check that stat until after watching the tape—but once I saw it, it made perfect sense.
Reed’s change-of-direction ability is top-tier. He rarely gets caught off balance in coverage, and his technique allows him to mirror receivers step for step. That makes things tough on quarterbacks—there aren’t many easy throws when Reed is in coverage.
One example that jumped off the screen came from a first-quarter third down against the Buffalo Bills. Josh Allen lined up in shotgun with a bunch formation to his left. The play was a classic man-beater—two receivers run vertical routes to clear space, while Curtis Samuel breaks inside underneath.
Samuel initially gets a clean release and creates some early separation, but Reed doesn’t panic. His footwork is precise, and he closes the gap instantly. The recovery, positioning, and timing—just a textbook rep. If that play happened in a Lions uniform, I’d be up off the couch. That’s how good it was.
Later in the same game, in the third quarter, we saw another great rep from Reed on second-and-15 against rookie receiver Keon Coleman. The Jets were in man coverage, and Allen faced pressure from the right edge. He took a deep shot toward Coleman along the sideline, but Reed played it perfectly—physical at the line, maintained leverage, tracked the ball, and disrupted the catch point with excellent timing.
Though Reed was hit with a couple of penalties in that game, his energy and competitiveness never wavered. Even against a high-octane Bills offense, he kept battling—and that’s exactly the kind of fight Detroit’s defense thrives on.
Another standout moment came from the Jets’ Week 9 matchup against the Houston Texans. On the very first play, Reed lined up against tight end Cade Stover. The big-bodied Stover ran an in-breaking route, but Reed was locked in. He worked around the 6-foot-5 frame to knock the pass away—another brilliant example of technique and anticipation. That’s teach-tape stuff.
High Football IQ and Communication Skills
What impressed me just as much as Reed’s athleticism was his football intellect. He clearly studies his opponents and communicates well with his teammates pre- and post-snap. You can see him helping orchestrate coverage calls, something that often goes unnoticed but is critical in the secondary.
One play from the Bills game shows this clearly. The Bills motioned Keon Coleman across the formation just before the snap. The Jets defense, including Reed, adjusted seamlessly. They matched the coverage quickly and shut down all the primary options. Allen’s eyes went elsewhere, and even though he tried to hit Curtis Samuel on a late route, the timing was off—largely thanks to the coordination on the back end.
Later in the same game, Reed was matched up on Mack Hollins on a second-and-8. The Bills lined up in 11 personnel, and Allen used motion to try and get Hollins some breathing room. From Allen’s eye movement, it looked like Hollins was the first read—but again, Reed was all over it. He anticipated the route and smothered it early, forcing Allen to move off him and look to other options.
Toughness and Fearlessness
Cornerbacks need short memories. It’s a position where you’re going to give up plays—it’s how you bounce back that matters. Reed showed that in a huge way late in the Buffalo game.
After getting flagged for defensive pass interference on a deep ball to Hollins, Reed came right back on the very next snap and made a hustle play. Samuel caught a pass in the flat, and Reed came flying in for the tackle—helmet flying off and all. It was only a 2-yard gain, but it was one of those gritty effort plays that speaks volumes about a player’s mindset.
From a tackling standpoint, Reed checks the boxes. He’s not just willing—he’s eager to hit. He plays with solid form and doesn’t shy away from contact. According to PFF, he had a 64.3 tackling grade last season and missed only eight tackles—a respectable number for a cornerback.
Even though the Bills game wasn’t his cleanest in terms of penalties, it provided a solid measuring stick. Going up against an elite quarterback like Josh Allen highlights both strengths and areas to grow. But overall, Reed’s poise and playmaking ability stood out, even in a tough matchup.
A Key Piece in a Revamped Secondary
What stands out most is how natural a fit Reed seems to be for the Lions’ defensive system. With new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard at the helm, the Lions will be looking to build on their aggressive, physical identity—and Reed fits that mold perfectly.
He brings veteran experience, sharp instincts, and a willingness to lead by example. He communicates well, tackles hard, and doesn’t back down from top-tier competition. That’s exactly the kind of presence you want on the outside when you’re building a defense that wants to dominate in January.
Reed isn’t just a fill-in for a departed starter—he’s a tone-setter, a competitor, and someone who can elevate the unit around him.
Detroit’s front office clearly made this move with a vision. And if the film tells us anything, it’s that D.J. Reed is more than ready to play a major role in that plan.