Former New York Jets and pending free-agent cornerback D.J. Reed is expected to sign a three-year, $48 million deal with the Detroit Lions when the new league year begins on March 12. Reed has been a standout defensive back for New York since signing with the team in 2022. The former fifth-round pick out of Kansas State in 2018 has totaled 414 tackles (326 solo), two sacks, four forced fumbles, six interceptions, and 50 pass deflections in 101 career games. The Lions just lost cornerback Carlton Davis III to the New England Patriots in free agency, so Reed will replace him opposite 2024 first-round pick Terrion Arnold in 2025 under new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard.
ESPN New York's Rich Cimini writes that the New York Jets aren't expected to use the franchise tag this year on any of their seven starters that are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents. It makes sense that the Jets aren't looking to retain old players under a new regime with head coach Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey. Cornerback D.J. Reed should attract plenty of interest as a free agent and is expected to test the market after ranking 14th out of 77 cornerbacks in 2024 in EPA per target, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. With the tag amount expected to be more than $20 million for cornerbacks, it will be too rich for the Jets. The 28-year-old missed three games due to injury but was reliable otherwise with 64 tackles (52 solo), one sack and 11 pass breakups in 14 starts for the Jets. There's a good chance he'll sign elsewhere this offseason.
D.J. Reed Exits Monday Night Game With Groin Injury
Veteran New York Jets cornerback D.J. Reed (groin) exited Monday night's game against the Bills in the second half due to a groin injury. Before leaving, Reed recorded a pass defended and a solo tackle. Backup Brandin Echols, a sixth-round draft pick by the Jets in 2021, replaced him. Reed has been one of the Jets' top defensive players this season, and his absence could be a significant setback if he requires extended time off. Originally a fifth-round pick of the 49ers, Reed signed with the Jets in the 2022 offseason as a free agent. Fellow starting secondary player Chuck Clark (ankle) had already been ruled out earlier in the game due to his own ankle injury. Reed will aim to return for the Jets' Week 7 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football.
Green Bay Packers defensive back D.J. Reed (ankle) was able to suit up for a full practice session on Tuesday. Reed was limited to open the week, but now appears to be headed in the right direction ahead of the Week 3 matchup against the New England Patriots. The former fifth-round pick was forced to sit out last week's win over the Tennessee Titans. The absence of Reed would likely give Michael Carter III and Jarrick Bernard-Converse more playing time. However, fantasy managers should expect Reed to be out there after a full session on Tuesday which should give this defensive unit a boost on Thursday.
New York Jets cornerback D.J. Reed (concussion) has been ruled out for the Week 5 contest on the road against the Denver Broncos. Reed was unable to clear the league's concussion protocol this week, so he'll look to do so next week ahead of the Week 6 tilt against the Philadelphia Eagles. Defensive back Brandin Echols (hamstring) has also been ruled out, so New York's secondary is going to be a bit vulnerable against an improved Broncos passing attack. The 26-year-old Reed has 28 tackles (22 solo) in the first four games of the 2023 season for Gang Green in his second year with the team.
D.J. Reed Believes Jets Defense Will Be Historically Good This Season
New York Jets cornerback D.J. Reed believes that this year's iteration of their defense can be the best in the league and one of the best in NFL history. Reed said, "I think we have the potential to be the best defense in the NFL. Honestly, I think we can be historical, not just the best defense in the league..." He proceeded to say that he thinks the Jets' defense can be on the level of the 1985-'86 Chicago Bears and the "Legion of Boom" Seahawks squad. This offseason has provided the most hype for the Jets since the earlier days of Rex Ryan's tenure with Darrelle Revis as the headliner on defense. The defense/special teams unit is currently ranked in the top five in the league for fantasy projections, but they also have one of the toughest schedules this year.
New York Jets cornerback D.J. Reed has been really impressed with rookie cornerback Sauce Gardner early on. Gardner, who was the No. 4 overall pick, didn't give up a single touchdown out of his 1,000-plus career coverage snaps and only allowed 13 catches for 117 yards last year at Cincinnati. "I love him man. I watched his tape and he's everything that the media is saying he is, he's a lockdown cornerback," Reed said. "He did it in college, and I believe he can do it at the NFL. He's prototypical, he has elite characteristics, and he plays with great eye discipline. He can catch, too. He makes great plays on the ball and it's just an overall complete cornerback in my opinion. I'm looking forward to balling with him."
The New York Jets signed free-agent cornerback D.J. Reed to an undisclosed deal on Tuesday, according to sources. Reed will head to the AFC after spending his first four NFL seasons in the NFL in the NFC with the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks. He started 14 games last year for Seattle and finished with a career-high 78 tackles (62 solo), two interceptions, 10 passes defensed and one fumble recovery. The 25-year-old will compete for a starting job this summer with the Jets. Reed was drafted in the fifth round of the 2018 draft by the 49ers out of Kansas State.
The Seattle Seahawks want to re-sign cornerback D.J. Reed, who was the only sure thing in Seattle's secondary in 2021. Reed made $920,000 in the final year of his deal last season, and it will likely cost the Seahawks at least $4 million per year to keep Reed around. If they don't think they can reach a long-term deal with him, the franchise tag is an option up until March 8. However, Seattle has used the tag just twice in the Pete Carroll-John Schneider era of 12 years. "I definitely want to stay here," the 25-year-old Reed said, "but the price has to be right." In 14 games last year, Reed had a career-high 78 tackles (62 solo), two interceptions, 10 passes defensed and one fumble recovery. The Seahawks have also made it a priority to re-sign safety Quandre Diggs.
San Francisco 49ers defensive back D.J. Reed (pectoral) suffered a torn pectoral muscle during a recent offseason workout, according to a league source. It's unknown how much time Reed will miss with his injury, but he's likely to be questionable to start the season on time unless it's delayed due to COVID-19. Linebacker Kwon Alexander suffered the same injury on Oct. 31 last year and returned to practice two months later. Reed is a valuable backup for the Niners because of his versatility to play corner, nickel back and safety. He can also contribute on special teams as a returner, but he has no significance to fantasy owners in IDP leagues. Reed was a fifth-round pick by San Fran in 2018 out of Kansas State. He appeared in all 16 games last year and had 13 tackles and scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery.
