With so many question marks in the secondary, the Indianapolis Colts may seek the position next summer.
After suggesting the Colts approach Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis in 2025 free agency last week, Bleacher Report focused on upgrading Indianapolis’ weak secondary in its Week 14 list of solutions to every NFL team’s worst flaws.
This time, Bleacher Report’s Scouting Department recommended the Colts to check into D.J. Reed, the New York Jets’ seven-year pro cornerback, during the upcoming summer.
“…The Colts should be proactive while Anthony Richardson is on his rookie contract. That means looking for one of the best cornerbacks on the market to fill a vacuum. D.J. Reed ranked fifth overall on our free agency big board following the trade deadline. “He was a great running partner for Sauce Gardner in New York and could do the same in Indianapolis,” writes Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report.
Reed was selected in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, but he never had the opportunity to start on a regular basis until he was signed by the Seattle Seahawks before his third season.
Since the 2020 season, Reed has made 64 starts in 66 games.
Reed has six interceptions, 47 pass deflections, 340 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles in his career, with Seattle and New York respectively.
Reed may be having his greatest season yet in 2024, leading a strong Jets secondary with a Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade of 74.5 after ten games.
He was even the highest-graded cornerback in the NFL through the first half of the 2023 season, implying that his consistent performance should justify a decent salary in free agency.
According to Bleacher Report, cornerback is the Colts’ fifth-largest need, with the team ranking 26th in league pass defense through the first 13 weeks of the 2024 season.
Indianapolis’ defense has allowed 17 passing touchdowns and 232.4 passing yards per game, resulting in an average of 23 points per game.
Reed may not have an impressive number of interceptions, but his strength is forcing incompletions, which the Colts could need a lot more of next season.
