Jets starting cornerbacks D.J. Reed and Michael Carter II enter the final year of their contracts this season, meaning New York will likely have to decide between the two as to which they want to keep long-term.
Both have been crucial parts of a Jets secondary that ranks among the best in football. Pro Football Focus ranked Reed as the 10th-best CB in 2023 and Carter II was the highest ranked slot-corner. Not to mention that they play alongside the best cornerback in football, Sauce Gardner, who will soon be looking to be the highest-paid player at the position shortly as well.
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There are a variety of factors that general manager Joe Douglas will have to take into consideration when deciding which option is more feasible for the team moving forward and by no means is it an easy one. Both offer high-caliber play at a valuable position but in different ways.
Here is a breakdown of what it would mean for the Jets to extend Reed or Carter after the 2024 season.
Jets will have a big contract decision at cornerback soon
Extending DJ Reed
Reed has been one of, if not the best, free agent acquisition that Douglas has made since he signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the Jets before the 2022 season.
For context, in Reed's first season as a Jet, he ranked eighth among cornerbacks in coverage grade and didn't give up a play longer than 20 yards the entire season. He led the Jets secondary in tackles in 2023 with a total of 21 passes deflected in 32 starts over the past two seasons.
Not only has Reed been an asset on the field with his play, but the value he brings to the Jets locker room does not go unnoticed as Gardner has gone out of his way to praise the 6-year veteran on multiple occasions.
Sauce Gardner says he would give his Pro Bowl selection to DJ Reed if he could. The bond between these two studs is so special 🥲#Jets pic.twitter.com/7nkDWNyVL7
— Optimistic Jets (@OptimisticJets) December 28, 2022
The two issues that arise with Reed's potential long-term future with the Jets are his age and the contract he'll demand once the 2024 campaign is over.
He's currently 27 years old and will turn 28 by the time this season ends. When it comes to the cornerback position, age is a major factor when it comes to the decline of the player's ability. We've seen players such as Richard Sherman and Hall of Famer Darrelle Revis hit the age of 30 and become a shell of their elite respective abilities.
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If you're wondering what type of ballpark Reed will be looking for in terms of a new contract, L'Jarius Sneed is the best example. Sneed is a better corner than Reed, but they are both 27 years old and among the best at their position. Sneed signed a four-year, $76.4 million contract ($51.5 million guaranteed) with the Titans after being traded for the Chiefs this offseason and is now the No. 1 option at cornerback on a retooling team.
While Reed might not command that salary, he certainly will be one of the higher-paid cornerbacks in the NFL
Extending Michael Carter II
Carter II being as good as he's been does also not bode well for Jets fans who may want to keep Reed beyond 2024.
Carter II has vastly improved and enhanced his game as the Jets' top nickel corner since being drafted by Douglas in the fifth round in the 2021 NFL Draft. Having just turned 25 years old back in March, Carter II is among the top slot cornerbacks in football.
He ended his 2023 season ranking first in total yards allowed (195) and receptions (25) allowed. Carter II has also been reliable on the field playing 47 games in his first three seasons as a Jet and was penalized only five times over that span with just once in 2023.
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What will be more enticing to Douglas if he's in a position to decide between Carter II or Reed is the money. The highest-paid nickel corner in football is Bills' Taron Johnson, who signed a three-year, $31 million contract with the Bills in free agency earlier this year. His deal proves that a potential extension with Carter II would be a much cheaper option for the Jets.
If it does ultimately come down to the Jets keeping one player or the other, Carter II would be the wise decision for Douglas in the long run.
Sauce Gardner's impending deal
The Jets are in a luxurious, but tough position where they already have their No. 1 cornerback in Gardner. As of now, the Jets have to operate as if they will have to pay Gardner after his rookie deal expires after the 2026 season.
Gardner is not only the best corner in the league, but he is homegrown and has started to become a leader for this Jets squad even at age 23. Look for Gardner to be the highest-paid corner in football in the near future, meaning it will be tough to see Douglas paying $20 million or more per year for two cornerbacks in a cap-driven league.
