The New York Jets ought to make extending D.J. Reed a top priority during this offseason.
The New York Jets have been active in the offseason with several significant moves already made, but their efforts are far from over. Reports suggest that the team is still eyeing notable names in free agency, necessitating the creation of additional cap space.
Currently, the Jets possess roughly $8.5 million in cap space according to Over the Cap. While this amount isn’t substantial, the team has ample financial flexibility to generate more funds. While restructuring contracts for players such as Quinnen Williams and John Franklin-Myers is an option, it would entail pushing more dead money into future seasons.
To address immediate cap concerns and secure one of their key players for the long term, the Jets should prioritize extending star cornerback D.J. Reed.
Reed is entering the final year of his three-year, $33 million contract signed before the 2022 season, carrying a 2024 cap hit of $15.64 million, the team’s fourth-highest. However, the Jets have avenues to reduce this figure.
While restructuring Reed’s contract could yield over $7 million in cap space, it would also entail future dead cap charges. Thus, the optimal solution would be negotiating an extension.
Extending Reed would not only free up $7.5 million in 2024 cap space but also secure one of their key defensive assets for the foreseeable future, a critical move given the rising cornerback market. Recent contracts, such as L’Jarius Sneed’s four-year, $76 million deal with the Tennessee Titans, highlight the escalating costs at the position.
With other cornerback talents like Patrick Surtain II and Sauce Gardner becoming eligible for extensions soon, the cornerback market is likely to continue expanding. Securing Reed’s extension now would enable the Jets to manage their cap space effectively in the long run.
While considering an extension for nickel cornerback Michael Carter II is an option, his 2024 cap hit is already modest, and extending him would yield less than $2 million in cap space. Additionally, the nickel cornerback market isn’t as financially demanding.
In conclusion, extending D.J. Reed should be a top priority for the Jets this offseason. Doing so would not only facilitate the acquisition of players like Jadeveon Clowney but also ensure financial stability for the team moving forward.
