According to Pro Football Focus, the Pittsburgh Steelers would be the clearest choice for cornerback D.J. Reed of the New York Jets. By the end of the season, Reed, a free agent, stated that he was prepared to depart and consider his other choices.
Reed is likely the best free agent available and will demand a large contract, but the Steelers will have the funds to pay for him if they wish to sign him.
“Reed, who has achieved the feat across three different teams, enters free agency having finished with an overall grade above 70.0 for the sixth consecutive season. He continued his streak of exceptional play that characterized his time in New York, when he finished in the 91st percentile among outside cornerbacks for three seasons, with a 51.28% lockdown rate in 2024. Reed would fit right in with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who used their corners the most in closed coverages in the NFL last season. The Steelers could keep their aggressive defensive style and strengthen their secondary by pairing him with up-and-coming player Joey Porter Jr.,” they said.
Reed is one of the few cornerbacks available for the Steelers to acquire. Reed’s ability to play both inside and outside may be appealing to the Steelers, a team that is rumored to be big on Cory Trice.
Since the Jets occasionally turned into a man-coverage and Cover 3 defensive last season, he can also play predominantly in the same schemes as the Steelers. Therefore, it would be very logical for the Steelers to pursue Reed and attempt to sign him.
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