D.J. Reed named Jets’ ‘secret superstar’ by Touchdown Wire
Sauce Gardner is already considered one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL after his incredible rookie season. However, sometimes his running mate doesn’t get the recognition he deserves.
Luckily, our friend Doug Farrar from Touchdown Wire is here to give that recognition. In his recent article about a “secret superstar” for every team, he named cornerback DJ Reed to that position for the New York Jets.
Here’s what Farrar had to say about Reed:
Rookie cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner drew all the plaudits in the Jets’ secondary last season, and there’s nothing wrong with that — the 2022 Defensive Rookie of the Year was about as good as any cornerback in the league, no matter what what coverage he was playing in. But there’s more to be said than was said about DJ Reed, who the Jets nicked a three-year, $33 million contract in 2022. Reed was on the open market despite having played exceptionally well for the Seahawks in 2020 and 2021.
The former 2018 49ers fifth-round pick from Kansas State has undoubtedly found his ideal home in Robert Saleh’s defense — last season he allowed 47 catches on 83 targets for 467 yards, 120 yards from catch, two touchdowns, one interception, 12 stoppages and an opponent’s Passing Rating of 75.7. If you wanted to avoid Sauce, a throw to Reed’s side of the field didn’t bring more positive options.
The Jets had a Pro Bowl cornerback in 2022, but it’s fair to argue that they could have, and perhaps should have, had two Pro Bowlers at that position.
Reed is only 26 and the Jets have him for at least the next two seasons. Maybe in 2023 he won’t be such a big secret.
The story originally appeared on Jets Wire
