Carlton Davis III is off to New England. D.J. Reed is coming to Detroit.
The Lions are replacing one veteran cornerback with another, agreeing to a three-year, $48 million deal with Reed, according to Fox Sports; his agency confirmed the contract via Instagram. Reed is a less expensive, albeit less accomplished version of Davis, who is reportedly signing a three-year, $60 million deal with the Patriots.
Reed, like Davis, is entering year eight of his career, with proven production to his name. He has 49 passes defended and six interceptions over the last five seasons, while allowing a passer rating in coverage of 78.4. Davis, over the same stretch, has 61 passes defended, 10 interceptions and a passer rating in coverage of 85.6. Both are willing, physical tacklers against the run.
Reed will be expected to step into a starting role in Detroit across from Terrion Arnold, though the No. 1 job at corner will be a competition in camp and likely into the season. Reed -- who's 5'9 -- had the benefit of playing opposite one of the best cover corners in the game the past three years in Sauce Gardner, and spent more time in zone coverage than in man. His duty might be more difficult in Detroit, where the Lions frequently play man.
In 14 games for the Jets last year, Reed had 11 passes defended, no picks and allowed a passer rating in coverage of 87.1, per Pro Football Reference. In 13 games for the Lions, Davis -- who's 6'1 -- had 11 passes defended, two picks and allowed a rating of 77.0. He took on the opposition's top receiver each week in a heavy man-to-man scheme until a broken jaw in December ended his season.
Of note: Reed was flagged 11 times, eight for pass interference. Davis was flagged eight times, five for pass interference. Some might read that as handsy, but the Lions can probably live with it. They've encouraged their corners to play aggressively under Dan Campbell and former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, which is unlikely to change under new DC Kelvin Sheppard.
In addition to Arnold, the Lions bring back Amik Robertson and Ennis Rakestraw at cornerback. Robertson is a proven commodity both in the slot and on the outside. The Lions will need Arnold, their first-round pick last year, to take a jump. They will also need more out of Rakestraw, their second-round pick last year who was limited for most of the season by a hamstring injury.
And they will need Reed to play up to the standard of his new contract, with steady coverage on the outside and reliable tackling in the run game.