The previous season's rankings are still fresh in every Detroit fan's mind. The Lions slid down to a 9-8 record and salvaged a last-place finish in the division. This year, however, things can take a different turn courtesy of a light schedule.

Renowned football analyst Warren Sharp recently made a breakthrough after crunching some numbers. Using Vegas oddsmakers' projected win totals, Sharp has concluded that the Lions have the easiest NFL schedule.

According to Sharp, the Lions (1), Saints (2), Bengals (3), Browns (4), and Jets (5) have the easiest schedule this year. On the contrary, the Rams (28), Cowboys (29), Panthers (30), Dolphins (31), and Cardinals (32) have the toughest ones.

That means the Lions will have every chance to correct their mistakes. In 2025, they finished the regular season with a 9-8 record and failed to qualify for the playoffs.

Yet now things look different. A fourth-place finish means they face other fourth-place teams in cross-divisional matchups (Cardinals, Giants, Titans). So, if they can play their cards right, they should be able to bounce back.

Meanwhile, Detroit veteran D.J. Reader has quietly announced his exit from the Lions circle.

Reader Signs Free Agency Deal With New York Giants

After spending two seasons with the Lions, Reader is now set to join up with a rival NFL squad, namely, the New York Giants. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that  Reader’s contract with the Giants is a two-year, $12.5 million deal.

With incentives, the DT can easily make up to  $15.5 million. Reader started 32 games for the Lions, registering 51 combined tackles, including four for loss, 12 quarterback hits, and three sacks.

Astonishingly, all three of his sacks came during 2024's 28 combined, setting a new single-season record for the defensive tackle. Last season, he notched up 28 combined tackles alongside four quarterback hits.

The Clemson graduate will be playing in his 11th NFL season with the Giants. He had previously played for the Houston Texans, Cincinnati Bengals, and, until recently, the Detroit Lions.

With a career that saw him register 328 total tackles and 12.5 sacks, he will look to better those numbers with the Giants. The Giants are looking to tighten up their defense, and Reader fits the description to a tee.

Even last season, he led the NFL with a 71.7 percent double-team rate while recording 28 tackles, nine pressures, and four quarterback hits.

What is left to be seen is if D.J. Reader's presence helps the Giants dictate terms on the field.

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Written by

Sourav Ganguly

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit