FLORHAM PARK, New Jersey. Cornerback DJ Reed enjoyed two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. He wanted to stay, but was offended by their free agent contract offer.
“They made me an offer, but that offer, in my opinion and my agent’s opinion, was disrespectful to my level of play and the player that I am,” Reed told reporters from New York on Thursday after signing a three-year, $33 million contract. dollars. contract with the New York Jets.
“I don’t want to go into details because I don’t want to scold anyone or do anything like that, but I definitely know that my value should be higher. That’s what I feel. I’m grateful that I’m Jet.”
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Reid, 25, believes he’s one of the best cornermen in the NFL, and he wanted the Seahawks to pay him as such. He claimed to have “nothing but love” for general manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll, saying they gave him the opportunity, but he made no secret of his feelings about the talks.
“I felt disrespected,” said Reid, who agreed to the terms on Tuesday.
The next day, Schneider commented on Reid’s departure and how close they were to signing him to a new contract. He was asked if it was like last year with cornerback Shaquille Griffin when it came to Griffin signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“Yes, I would say it was like, yes,” Schneider said.
Reid was the Seahawks’ main player last season, starting 14 games and recording two steals and 10 passes defended. At only 5ft 9in, he feels he has “set the blueprint” for the Seahawks, who have traditionally favored big corners. He credits his success as contributing to their 5’10” Tre Brown pick in the fourth round last year.
“We both won from each other, I played for the Seahawks,” Reid said.
In New York, Reed will reunite with coach Robert Saleh, who was the San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator in 2018 when they drafted Reid in the fifth round. He was also the coordinator when Reid was cut ahead of the 2020 season. The Seahawks demanded that he resign.
The Jets are hoping Reed and defenseman Jordan Whitehead, another free agent, can inspire their young side player.
“I feel like CB1,” Reed said, clearly not lacking in confidence. “I think it’s obvious, but people look at my height and say, ‘Oh, he’s a good CB2.’ Well, for example, no. If you look at the record from last year and the year before, it will be CB1. My stats compared to the All-Pros last year, from Jalen Ramsey to AJ Terrell and… who else was that? JC Jackson. My stats are with these guys. And I’m going to take another step this year.”
The Jets, ranked 30th in pass defense, plan to use Reed in his familiar position at right corner. It should be an easy transition for him, given his background in Saleh’s system. Reed is expecting a lot. Always is.
“Honestly, man, I knew I was gifted, even in high school,” he said. “Even when I didn’t have offers, I knew I was special. I knew that God created me as his masterpiece.”
Brady Henderson of ESPN contributed to this report.