New York Jets will sign former Seattle Seahawks cornerback D.J. Reed
The New York Jets have finally made a move to address their 32nd-ranked defense.
According to Connor Hughes of The Athletic, New York has agreed to terms with free agent cornerback D.J. Reed, formerly of the Seattle Seahawks.
The #Jets have signed cornerback DJ Reed, sources tell @TheAthletic
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) March 15, 2022
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero shared the terms of the deal. It’s three years and $33 million for the young corner.
The #Jets are signing former #Seahawks CB D.J. Reed to a three-year, $33 million deal with upside, per his agent @ajv. 💰
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 15, 2022
Reed, who will turn 26 in November, just had a breakout year with the Seahawks. Replacing the exiting Shaquill Griffin (who signed with Jacksonville), Reed was elevated into Seattle’s starting lineup and thrived. He started all 14 of his games and recorded two interceptions, 10 passes defended, and 78 tackles.
A fifth-round pick of the 49ers out of Kansas State in 2018 (while Robert Saleh was San Francisco’s defensive coordinator), Reed joined the Seahawks in 2020 and showed promise down the stretch. His performance was good enough to earn himself a promotion into the starting lineup the following season.
Despite standing at a slight frame of 5-foot-9 and 188 pounds, Reed plays outside cornerback. Reed began the season playing left cornerback for the Seahawks but ended up playing the majority of the year as Seattle’s right cornerback.
In 2021, Reed was targeted 68 times and allowed 35 catches for 383 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, resulting in a passer rating of 66.0. Allowing those 383 yards over 606 snaps in coverage, Reed allowed just 0.63 yards per cover snap, ranking sixth-best out of 96 qualified cornerbacks.
Reed also thrived in run support as he tied for second among all cornerbacks with 23 solo tackles against the run while only missing one tackle as a run defender.
New York has now made five signings since the beginning of free agency: guard Laken Tomlinson, wide receiver Braxton Berrios, tight end C.J. Uzomah, running back Tevin Coleman, and Reed.
