Detroit Lions: NFL analyst names offseason move he liked the most | Sporting News

The Detroit Lions made a slew of moves on both sides of the ball this offseason that fans were happy with. In a recent article naming the one offseason move he liked the most, one NFL analyst chose a free-agent signing on the defensive side of the ball.

The Athletic’s Mike Sando picked the signing of defensive lineman D.J. Reader as the Lions offseason move he liked the most.

Here’s what Sando had to say about it:

Adding D.J. Reader in free agency to bolster the defensive line comes with injury risk, but his all-out playing style seems like a great fit at a position of need for the Lions, who might need to slow the 49ers’ ground game to reach a Super Bowl.

As much as I like the addition of Reader, who no doubt makes the defensive line better and adds some much-needed experience upfront, that wasn’t even one of the top-two moves I liked the most.

Instead, I’d go with one of the moves in the secondary, whether that be the trade for Carlton Davis or the selection of Terrion Arnold in the 2024 NFL Draft. After all, the Lions sported one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL in 2023 and that was one of the biggest concerns going into the offseason, if not the biggest.

Davis gives the Lions an experienced No. 1 cornerback and an upgrade over Cameron Sutton, and Arnold should be a respectable No. 2, at worst, in his first season and has the potential to be a true lockdown corner at the next level.

If I had to pick one, I’d say the trade for Davis would be it. Unlike Arnold, who isn’t guaranteed to make a major impact as a rookie, Davis will immediately improve the pass defense for the win-now Lions, and he has a Super Bowl ring, something the Lions are running for in 2024.

Arnold has the higher ceiling, but he might not reach it in Year 1.