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DJ Reed is one of 25 Seattle Seahawks players entering the 2022 NFL Free Agency. He first joined the league as a fifth-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2018 NFL Draft. The cornerback spent two full seasons with the 49ers and went to the Super Bowl with them in 2020. In the 2020 offseason, Reed was placed on the active/NFL list and eventually waived with a non-football injury designation on August 4, 2020.
A day later, Reed was picked up off waivers by the Seahawks, and he has been there ever since. This past season, Reed recorded 78 tackles, two interceptions, and 10 pass deflections.
However, his 4-year, $2,771,371 contract has expired (contract information courtesy of Spotrac), and the cornerback is a free agent this offseason. Here are the top three landing spots for Reed ahead of the 2022-2023 NFL season.
DJ Reed Free Agency Landing Spots
3. The Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals have a lot to figure out this offseason. There is drama surrounding quarterback Kyler Murray and his contract with the team, and they have to address the decline that was the Cardinals' 2021 season. The team began 7-0 and finished the regular season 11-6, including a brutal three-game losing streak. Not to mention, their short-lived playoff appearance was hard to watch.
Along with these problems, the Cardinals need reinforcements on defense. 11 defensive players are free agents this offseason, including cornerbacks Robert Alford and Kevin Peterson. Meanwhile, the team's starting cornerbacks Marco Wilson and Byron Murphy are both young and less experienced than Reed. The free agent could provide experience and leadership on defense while still being young enough to perform and grow to his peak potential.
2. The Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs were stacked with talent this past season, but they weren't able to make it to the big game. Now, 28 Kansas City players are free agents. Of these, 12 are on defense, and three are cornerbacks Charvarius Ward, Mike Hughes, and Chris Lammons.
If the Chiefs choose not to re-sign Ward this offseason, Reed would be the perfect replacement at left cornerback. He would compliment the talent of right cornerback L'Jarius Sneed perfectly. Both 25-year-old men perform to the same standards and have experience in high-risk, high-reward situations.
1. The Philadelphia Eagles
At number one, the Philadelphia Eagles would be the best overall landing spot for Reed this offseason. The team has a ton of potential moving forward. They just finished the first year of their rebuild under first-year head coach Nick Sirianni and first-year starting quarterback Jalen Hurts. Despite the “rebuild” label, the team finished the regular season with a record of 9-8 and made it to the playoffs.
This offseason, they have plenty of cap space and three first-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft. The Eagles could easily pay Reed his desired salary. Eagles cornerback Steven Nelson is a free agent, meaning that there is enough room on Philadelphia's 53-man roster to add the 5th year player. If the Eagles sign him this offseason, Reed will accompany four-time Pro-Bowler Darius Slay and Avonte Maddox. With Slay getting up there in age, the Eagles must get some younger cornerbacks in their rotation.