Should Patriots Pursue This Top Free Agent After Being Listed As ‘Best Fit?’
The New England Patriots need to add talent across the board this offseason.
Even with a star like Christian Gonzalez leading the position group, New England needs more at cornerback. If the team goes the free agent route, it shouldn’t need to look too far.
ESPN listed cornerback D.J. Reed as the fourth-best free agent with the Patriots as a “best fit” team. Reed and Sauce Gardner formed a formidable duo in the secondary with the New York Jets. Reed could easily bring that tandem energy to New England to team up with Gonzalez.
The 28-year-old posted production at three previous NFL stops with the Jets, the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers. The Patriots don’t have much behind Gonzalez with more consistency needed from Marcus Jones. They also have multiple players heading to free agency headlined by veteran Jonathan Jones. Reed’s veteran ability to impact the opposing passing game should play to the Patriots’ blueprint in free agency.
Reed defended 11 passes and recorded a sack across 14 games for the Jets in 2024.