Great players love to surround themselves with other great players and when it came down to a final decision between Washington or Detroit in free agency, the talent Detroit's building in their secondary was a determining factor for veteran cornerback D.J. Reed in choosing to sign a three-year deal with the Lions.

Reed pointed to the talent at cornerback with Terrion Arnold and Amik Robertson, but factored in Detroit's safety tandem of Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph as a big influence in the decision as well.

"I wanted to get paid. I wanted to play with dogs on the defensive side and the offensive side. I'm going to a great team and have a shot at that Lombardi (trophy)," Reed said.

"I'm really looking forward to playing with the safety duo. That's something I was very excited about. I'm going to be playing with two All-Pro safeties, which will definitely take my game to the next level."

Joseph led the NFL with nine interceptions and was first-team All-Pro. Branch made his first Pro Bowl and is widely considered one of the most versatile safeties in the league. The duo is arguably the best safety tandem in the game today.

The contract Reed signed Thursday is his third in free agency. He was drafted by San Francisco in the fifth round in 2018, played in Seattle in 2020 and 2021 and spent the last three seasons with the New York Jets.

At 5-foot-9, Reed's journey to becoming one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL wasn't an easy one, from receiving no stars as a high school player and then walking on at Fresno State. A picture of him making the team at Fresno State after a walk-on tryout is still the screen saver on his phone to remind him of his humble beginnings and where hard work and tenacity has gotten him.

Last season, Reed started 14 games for the Jets and produced 64 tackles (52 solo), 11 passes defended, four tackles for loss and a sack.

He's replacing veteran Carlton Davis III, who left the Lions to sign with New England in free agency this offseason. The Lions are getting a similarly productive player in Reed at the cornerback spot.

Reed allowed 36 receptions on 63 targets with two touchdowns, recorded no interceptions and registered an opposing passer rating of 87.1 as quarterbacks completed just 57.1 percent of their passes on him.

In comparison, Davis allowed 42 receptions on 76 targets with two touchdowns, notched two interceptions and produced an opposing passer rating of 77.0 as quarterbacks completed just 55.3 percent of their passes against him.

In fact, Reed, 28, has never allowed more than three touchdowns in his coverage area in any of his seven NFL seasons and has given up only two touchdowns in each of the last three years.

"I think it fits very well," Reed said of his playstyle fitting to Detroit's defense. "The reason being is I'm a scrappy guy myself. I have grit. I'm a tenacious player. I want to dominate and win every rep. I'm a willing tackler. Most corners don't want to tackle. Most corners want to cover. I like to throw myself out there when I have to and I also want to cover as well. I think I fit well."

Reed says he loves playing man defense, and with the Lions playing as much man as they do in the secondary, it was a terrific fit in Detroit.

In 101 career games (70 starts), Reed has recorded 414 tackles (326 solo), 51 pass defenses, six interceptions, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and 2.0 sacks.

Alongside Arnold, Robertson and last year's second-round pick, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., who the Lions hope will take a big leap in development in year two, Detroit looks to be building good depth at cornerback and Reed can't wait to play his part in being a physical presence and a great cover man for it.