While cornerback may not be New England Patriots’ most pressing need, given their struggles at left tackle, wide receiver, and defensive end, it shouldn’t stop them from adding a solid starter to complement 2024 breakout player Christian Gonzalez. Fortunately for head coach Mike Vrabel, a reliable CB2 might be within reach. Veteran D.J. Reed, who completed the final year of a three-year, $33 million contract with the New York Jets, is set to secure a significant pay increase once free agency opens.
The team with the most cap space in the NFL might be eager to invest in Reed. Pro Football Network has identified the Patriots as a perfect fit for Reed, who was a fifth-round pick and has since grown into a dependable starter. “New England has the cap space to sign Reed as a low-end No. 1 and pair him with their promising young cornerback, Christian Gonzalez,” PFN noted. “Adding Reed opposite Gonzalez would create a strong pair of outside corners, giving the Patriots a defense that could force opponents to pick their target carefully.” This move would be a smart way to strengthen a defense that ranked 30th last season.
So, how much would it take for Reed to switch from one AFC East team to another? Spotrac estimates Reed’s market value at four years, $58.6 million—nearly $15 million per year—placing him just outside the top 10 in average annual value (AAV) for cornerbacks, ahead of players like Darius Slay, Charvarius Ward, and Jamel Dean.
While Reed, standing at 5-foot-9 and 188 pounds, isn’t a shutdown corner, he would still provide an upgrade next to Gonzalez, who does fall into that category. Signing Reed would give Vrabel the option to keep Jonathan Jones exclusively in the slot or even move him to free safety, similar to the role Devin McCourty once played.
Additionally, poaching Reed from the Jets would be a satisfying win for a Patriots team that hasn’t had much to celebrate in the past two seasons. So, if PFN’s prediction proves accurate, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Reed, once an adversary, wearing New England’s colors next season.