In the past week, there has been much speculation about the Detroit Lions adding a superstar edge rusher to their defense, following the trade request of Myles Garrett. It’s clear that the Lions need help on the edge this offseason, and this trade request has sparked discussions of a possible blockbuster deal.
But, the Lions’ defense has other needs that must be addressed. Despite prioritizing cornerback investments last offseason, the team still faces a need at that position. And interestingly, their solution might come from a former member of the Lions’ coaching staff. Aaron Glenn, the Lions’ former defensive coordinator, took over as the head coach of the New York Jets this offseason, possibly opening the door for a key move.
In a recent article, Nick Brinkerhoff of USA Today predicted that the Lions would sign Jets cornerback D.J. Reed, who is one of the top free agents this offseason. In the same piece, Brinkerhoff also suggested the Jets would land Lions corner Carlton Davis, leaving the Lions with a clear need at cornerback.
Reed, who is coming off a standout season, would be an excellent fit for Detroit’s defense. According to Pro Football Reference, Reed allowed just 57.1% of passes to be completed when thrown in his direction last season. Even more impressive, he held quarterbacks to only 6.4 yards per attempt on those throws.
In contrast, the Lions’ defense struggled a bit in that area in 2024. They allowed 7.2 yards per attempt to opposing offenses, ranking 11th worst in the NFL. To remedy this, Detroit will need to secure a veteran cornerback they can rely on to anchor the secondary and alleviate pressure on the developing duo of *Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
Reed could be the perfect veteran presence to step into the role once filled by Davis, providing much-needed stability at cornerback.
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Lions WR Forced to Withdraw from Pro Bowl After Injury
There will be no blue hair at the Pro Bowl this year after all.
Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has withdrawn from the event this weekend due to injury, and will be replaced by Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers, as announced by the Giants.
This means that the talented Detroit receiver, who posted 115 receptions and 1,200 receiving yards to earn his third consecutive Pro Bowl selection, will not be attending the annual event in Orlando.
St. Brown becomes the second Lions player to back out of the Pro Bowl. Earlier this week, offensive lineman Penei Sewell also withdrew, with fellow lineman Taylor Decker stepping in as his replacement.
However, Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, Frank Ragnow, Brian Branch, and Jack Fox are still set to participate, along with Decker.
The Pro Bowl games are scheduled to take place from Thursday through Sunday, featuring a skills competition and a flag football game.
