The Pittsburgh Steelers have multiple needs at the cornerback position this offseason, with both starting outside cornerback Donte Jackson and slot cornerback Cam Sutton set to hit free agency.
Luckily for the Steelers, there’s a boatload of free agent cornerbacks to choose from. ESPN’s Aaron Schatz believes New York Jets cornerback D.J. Reed would be a perfect pairing with Joey Porter Jr. in Pittsburgh.
“What’s the right match for Reed, who is considered by many to be the best veteran corner available?” Schatz wrote. “The Steelers seem to be a great match. They have a glaring need with Donte Jackson likely hitting free agency and rank among the top 10 teams in salary cap space. Pittsburgh was also 12th in using zone and 21st in using man this past season, which would benefit the versatile Reed. He had an off season in 2024, according to my coverage DVOA metric, but he was above average in 2023 and one of the league’s best cornerbacks in terms of yards per target in 2022.”
Reed’s market value according to Spotrac is $14.7 million. That’s a steep price, but the Steelers have $60 million in cap space, so they do have room to make a splash signing.
Seattle Seahawks cornerback D.J. Reed in a game against Washington Football Team at FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland, on Dec. 20, 2020. — All-Pro Reels Photography
The 5-foot-9, 188 pounds Reed spent the last three seasons with the Jets, making 46 starts. He recorded 220 tackles, seven tackles for loss, one sack, 32 passes defended, two interceptions and two forced fumbles in his time with Gang Green.
Reed was originally fifth-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers out of Kansas State in 2018. After two years in San Francisco, he was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Seahawks and surpassed Quinton Dunbar in the starting lineup. He initially received playing time due an injury by Dunbar, but the coaching staff was so impressed with Reed’s play that they kept him as a starter.
Pro Football Focus also Reed rated as the No. 1 cornerback in free agency, ahead of Charvarius Ward from the San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills cornerback Rasul Douglas.
On March 17, 2022, Reed cashed in with a three-year, $33 million contract with the New York Jets. After a banner year in 2024, it’s expected that Reed will get a nice payday in this year’s free agency cycle.
“In 2024, he recorded a 51.28% lockdown rate, continuing a trend of standout play that defined his time in New York, where he ranked in the 91st percentile among outside cornerbacks over three seasons,” Mason Cameron of PFF wrote.
