The Detroit Lions focused on making strategic acquisitions in free agency as they aim to keep the core of the roster intact.
The most notable addition is D.J. Reed, who will replace starting cornerback Carlton Davis III after he signed with the New England Patriots.
The Lions also bolstered their depth with signings like defensive tackle Roy Lopez and quarterback Kyle Allen.
It never seemed realistic that the Detroit Lions would make a big splash in free agency.
After all, this franchise’s renaissance was largely propelled by the homegrown players it drafted.
Keeping them in the fold has become the priority as the organization looks to expand the window of opportunity to win its first-ever Super Bowl.
That will require a significant investment, which affects the financial flexibility to take some big swings on the open market. But general manager Brad Holmes still went ahead and made some new acquisitions this month, finding a new starter at cornerback and a slew of quality backups who will buttress multiple sectors of the team. We examine and grade each of the seven signings below:
Grade A
D.J. Reed, CB
The deal: three years, $48 million.
Reed was brought in as a replacement for Carlton Davis III, who left for New England after one season in Detroit. But he may prove to be a cheaper, better and more durable alternative to Davis. Reed has missed only five games the past three seasons and was a consistent performer throughout his tenure with the New York Jets. Among cornerbacks, he earned a reputation as one of the best run defenders in the league.
He also provided sticky coverage, forcing tight-window throws on 37.3% of the passes thrown his way – the fourth-highest rate in the NFL. At 28, Reed is in the prime of his career and has the experience to take on a mentorship role with Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr., a pair of 2024 draft picks who are still developing. All in all, the addition of Reed checks off a lot of boxes.
Grant Stuard, LB
The deal: one year, $1.7 million.
It was easy to see why Detroit signed Stuard following his high-energy introductory news conference. The linebacker, after all, seems like a perfect fit for an organization whose unofficial motto is “grit.” “Play style is definitely relentless effort,” he said. Stuard’s full-throttle approach served him well as he became an indispensable member of the Indianapolis Colts’ special teams, where he played on five different units. He is expected to take on a similar role in Detroit and provide some depth in the middle of the Lions’ defense. After Detroit opted to release Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Stuard was a smart pickup.
Two weeks before free agency began, Holmes reminded the public that the “the trenches are always going to be a priority for us.”
“I just think that is where the game is won,” he added. “You just can never really have enough of those guys.”
Soon thereafter, Lopez came aboard. The 6-foot-2, 318-pound fireplug is a solid rotational nose tackle who has made 50 starts over the past four seasons. In 2024, his final year with Arizona, he averaged 29 snaps per game and collected 28 tackles – four of which resulted in lost yardage. According to Pro Football Focus, his run-stop percentage was better than Lions starter, D.J. Reader.
Although he has never produced more than one sack in a season, Lopez has shown he can push the pocket. In 2024, he generated 18 pressures. Given his reliable track record, this is a solid addition for a defense that experienced major attrition within its front seven last year.
The Lions entered 2024 without an experienced backup quarterback. Hendon Hooker, a 2023 third-round pick, never played as a rookie as he recovered from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee that he suffered during his final year at Tennessee. He then logged just 33 snaps in three appearances last year before the Lions brought Teddy Bridgewater out of retirement in late December to back up Jared Goff as the team geared up for its playoff run. W
hen Goff was briefly sidelined during the NFC divisional round loss to Washington, it was Bridgewater, not Hooker, who entered the game. Hooker wasn’t even active that night. Once Bridgewater’s contract expired following the season, the Lions were again left without a seasoned veteran who could replace Goff in a pinch. That’s why adding Kyle Allen made sense.
He has played for five different teams over seven seasons and has made 19 starts – 17 more than practice squad quarterback Jake Fromm. Better yet, the organization didn’t have to make much of a financial commitment to sign Allen, whose one-year contract includes just $100,000 guaranteed.
Among Holmes’ major priorities this offseason was beefing up the Lions’ cast of reserves.
“Depth,” he said, “is a huge, critical piece.”
Maddox will help enhance it now that he is the fold. Last season, the slot cornerback played 359 defensive snaps over 21 games with Super Bowl champion Philadelphia. During his seven-year tenure with the Eagles, Maddox was reliably sturdy against the run and decent in coverage. While the 28-year-old Maddox is projected to serve as backup to Amik Robertson, he has some position flexibility that allows him to potentially help out in other spots within the secondary.
In recent years, Maddox has moonlighted at safety, so he could conceivably spell Brian Branch on occasion. That would help offset the loss of Ifeatu Melifonwu in free agency. The fact that Maddox is a Detroit native is a plus. The Lions acquired a player who should be extra-motivated to help his hometown team in its Super Bowl quest.
A former second-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts, Ya-Sin entered the NFL as a starter. But his career has been on a downturn in recent years as he has bounced from one franchise to the next. This past season, Ya-Sin played primarily on special teams with the San Francisco 49ers, his fourth team in as many years.
With Kindle Vildor gone, the 5-foot-11, 195-pound Ya-Sin may be able to carve out a role on the Lions as a backup to Reed and Arnold. Ya-Sin, after all, is known as a press-man specialist with an aggressive play style. He should fit in well with the Lions’ scheme and be an upgrade over Vildor, who was seen as a liability in coverage.
Before the Lions added Yeboah, there were only two tight ends on the roster – starter Sam LaPorta and backup Brock Wright. But shortly after Yeboah came aboard, Detroit re-signed Shane Zylstra. Just like that, the impact of Yeboah’s acquisition was mitigated. Yeboah, after all, is a down-the-line reserve. In four seasons with the New York Jets, he has made only nine catches for 101 yards and a touchdown.
The meager output wouldn’t be a concern if he distinguished himself as a support player on the line of scrimmage. But he hasn’t. According to Pro Football Focus, he has consistently earned mediocre to below-average grades in pass protection and run blocking. Yeboah has a solid track record on special teams, however. So, he may able to earn a spot there.
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