Among the toughest departures for the Jets this offseason was cornerback D.J. Reed. He had formed a dynamic duo with Sauce Gardner in the secondary, creating one of the top cornerback pairings in the league.
Sadly for the Jets, Reed chose a new path, signing a three-year, $48 million deal with the Detroit Lions.
It wasn’t shocking to see Reed depart, since the Jets were unlikely to meet his asking price. What did surprise some was how much Detroit ended up paying him. Though he was expected to command more than $50 million, his final deal was seen as a steal by some analysts. Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzano even named it one of the offseason’s top bargains.
“D.J. Reed, CB, Detroit Lions (three years, $48 million),” Manzano said. “It was a surprise that he didn’t get a contract like Carlton Davis III or Charvarius Ward, both of whom landed three-year, $60 million deals. Some teams may have thought Reed looked better due to Sauce Gardner’s presence. Even so, Reed could outperform both players thanks to the talent around him in Detroit.”
“Brian Branch’s versatility makes things easier for everyone in the secondary. Young corners like Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. might also develop quickly. And considering Davis didn’t fit Detroit’s man-heavy defense last year, swapping him for Reed—who earns $4 million less annually—was a smart move.”
As for the Jets’ replacement, they brought in Brandon Stephens, though his deal hasn’t gotten much praise in terms of value.
During his time in New York, Reed started 46 games. He logged two interceptions, 32 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and 220 tackles. He also added seven tackles for loss and a sack. Reed now joins a Lions defense that has been among the league’s best recently.