Pros and Cons: Should Giants sign D.J. Reed?

The Giants will be looking to upgrade multiple positions in their defensive backfield during the offseason and have plenty of cap space to do so. One of the best options expected to hit the open market is D.J. Reed, whose three-year, $33 million deal with the New York Jets expired at the end of the 2024 season.

Reports suggest it's unlikely Reed will remain with the Jets, and if he were to end up with their cross-town rivals, that should provide them with an immediate upgrade in an area of weakness.

Let's break down the pros and cons...

Pros

On-field ability

The Jets signed Reed at the start of the 2022 season and paired him with Sauce Gardner, giving them one of the best cornerback partnerships in the NFL. Many analysts felt that Reed should have been to at least one Pro Bowl during that time as he started 46 games and averaged over 10 pass breakups per season.

Reed’s athleticism, competitiveness, ability to stay with his man and smarts have meant that he has been able to hold his own over the past three years, despite the Jets rarely tasking Gardner with covering the top opposing receiver.

Immediate upgrade

The Giants drafted Deonte Banks in the first round a few years ago, but he hasn’t developed into the number one corner that the team expected, even being benched during the 2024 season after clashing with some of the coaches. If Reed comes in as the number one – an opportunity he may covet – then this would take the pressure off Banks to try and shut down elite receivers every week.

New York also struggled to fill the other cornerback spot across from Banks over the past two years, so adding Reed would be a boost in terms of their depth.

Entering his prime

Reed is only 28, so he’s entering his prime and could be ready to step into a leadership role for a defensive back unit that lacks players with such experience.  He could also be a good mentor for Banks and any other youngsters who are brought in.

Cons

Potential cost

Reed earned $11 million per season with the Jets and played up to that level, so he may be seeking even more money in his next contract, especially since this will likely be his last big payday. The Giants have plenty of cap space but may be headed for a rebuild if they show no improvement in 2025, so they will need to consider the longer-term consequences of such a big-money commitment.

Competition for his services

Reed is sure to have plenty of suitors. Several of the Jets’ coaches from last year left the organization in the offseason. Robert Saleh is now back in San Francisco, Jeff Ulbrich is back in Atlanta, and Tony Oden is in Tennessee, so if Reed wants to reunite with one of these coaches, the Giants’ chances of securing his services could fade.

Something else the Giants can’t offer Reed is an immediate chance to play for a team that is expected to be in the postseason mix. If he is determined to play for a contender after three straight losing seasons with the Jets, then this would be another reason the Giants would be a long shot to sign him.

Regression concerns

As noted, Reed was excellent over the past few years. However, there are some areas of his game that give cause for concern that he might not live up to a big-money deal. One is his lack of size, which – while it didn’t prevent him from holding his own even against bigger receivers – could become more detrimental if he starts to lose a step when he enters his thirties.

Another concern is that he only intercepted two passes over the past three years, which might make him less appealing to a Giants team whose main weakness in 2024 was arguably their inability to create turnovers.

Finally, his penalty rate has been increasing in recent years. He only had 12 defensive penalties in his first five seasons but had 19 in the past two years, including a career-high 11 in 2024. This may be a sign his technique, discipline, and focus are becoming less consistent as he ages.

Verdict

Reed makes perfect sense for the Giants, although in an ideal world they might like to add more size at the cornerback position. He would clearly provide them with an upgrade at a position of weakness, though. The issue here is that it may be a tough sell to convince Reed to join them over some of the other teams who are sure to come calling.