NY Jets release cornerback Pierre Desir after disappointing season

The NY Jets have released cornerback Pierre Desir after a disappointing season.

The NY Jets signed Pierre Desir with the expectation that he could fill in as a starting cornerback for the team in 2020. While expecting him to be a true No. 1 corner was always foolish, hoping for starting-caliber play seemed reasonable.

However, his performance this season certainly fell short of expectations.

And on Tuesday, the Jets reportedly released Desir after nine games with the team. As reported by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Jets plan to release Desir and the veteran will go on waivers.

This doesn’t come as much of a surprise given how much Desir has struggled this season. The Jets signed Desir to a one-year, $3.75 million contract in the offseason hedging on him having a bounce-back season.

Desir was a surprise standout for the Indianapolis Colts in 2018 but took a major step back the following year. The Jets hoped that they would see more of the 2018 version of Desir as opposed to the 2019 version.

Unfortunately, the performance they got was arguably even worse.

Through nine games, Desir 47.8 Pro Football Focus grade ranks 105th out of 120 qualified cornerbacks this season. His run-defense grade actually inflates his true coverage metrics with an abysmal PFF coverage grade of 42.1.

He’s allowed the 12th most receptions in the league with 35 and has allowed 1.77 yards per coverage snap which is fourth-most among 77 qualified cornerbacks. No player has been tagged for more touchdowns surrendered than Desir.

Simply put, he’s been bad. Very bad.

The NY Jets will play younger guys in place of Pierre Desir

The Jets realized that they would likely be better off cutting ties with Desir, a player who wasn’t going to be back next season, and instead playing some of the younger guys on the team.

We’re talking players like Bryce Hall, Lamar Jackson, and the recently-claimed Corey Ballentine. Hall will probably be given the first crack at the starting job opposite Blessuan Austin — something many Jets fans have been clamoring for.

The 2020 fifth-round pick made his NFL debut in Week 9 after missing the first eight games while recovering from an ankle injury he suffered in his senior season.

Many have high hopes for the former Virginia standout who was projected as an early Day-2 pick before his devastating injury.

Now, he’ll likely be given an opportunity to start for the remainder of the season.

Desir’s brief tenure won’t be remembered fondly, but for fans of the “Tank for Trevor” bandwagon, he certainly got the job done two weeks ago.

And if that’s his parting legacy with the Jets, so be it.