The New York Jets were a mess during the 2024 season, which is nothing new for a franchise that has a checkered past when it comes to utter dysfunction — and that dysfunction may drive away one of the team's best defenders.
Cornerback D.J. Reed joined the Jets on a three-year, $33 million deal in 2022 and has seen nothing but disaster since. After going 7-10 in Reed's first two seasons, the Jets fell even further in 2024 despite getting Aaron Rodgers back, posting a 5-12 mark.
As a result of all that, it comes as no surprise that Reed has made it clear he's likely gone in 2025. It remains to be seen if that sentiment has changed with a new head coach in town, but we would assume not. As we've seen in the past, even with a regime change, the Jets are still the Jets.
With Reed likely on his way out, Jarrett Bailey of Touchdown Wire predicts the Jets will replace him by signing Los Angeles Chargers cornerback and pending free agent, Asante Samuel Jr.
"With D.J. Reed likely leaving, pairing Sauce Gardner with Samuel would be a very enticing thought to keep an elite cornerback duo in place," Bailey wrote of his prediction.
Samuel has been a solid cornerback since entering the league in 2021. In each of his first three seasons, Samuel racked up double-digit passes defensed and notched two picks. He also never surrendered a completion rate higher than 62.1% and his worst passer rating given up was 96.8. He'd be a more than adequate replacement for Reed opposite Sauce Gardner.
The former second-round pick is coming off a down year after playing in just four games due to injury, but that isn't likely to impact his market that much. After all, Samuel is still only 25 years old and is a difference-maker on the back end.
Samuel is projected to garner a four-year, $45.8 million deal in free agency, which is a price tag the Jets can now afford after freeing up a boatload of cap space by cutting Davante Adams.
