NY Jets CB D.J. Reed is tired of the disrespect

In a NY Jets defense loaded with star talent, no player is overlooked more frequently than cornerback D.J. Reed. Reed may not be a household name, but make no mistake about it — he's among the best players at his position in the NFL.

The former San Francisco 49ers draft pick replied to a tweet from Pro Football Focus on Tuesday that asked fans to name a player with ample production and talent but very little recognition. Reed suggested that he was the perfect candidate.

Reed isn't alone in his opinion. It seems like a tradition that, every time this graph is posted on Twitter, fans flood the replies to show their appreciation for Reed.

I'm here to start a petition to change the name of this graphic to The D.J. Reed Graph. After all, there isn't a player in the NFL who better embodies the meaning of the image.

D.J. Reed is the most unheralded player on the NY Jets roster

The Jets signed Reed to a three-year, $33 million contract last offseason in a move that already seems like one of the savviest free-agent signings the team has made in years.

Reed put together consecutive rock-solid campaigns in Seattle, and he continued that trend in his first season with the Jets. The 26-year-old finished with a PFF coverage grade of 77.5 that ranked 10th among 120 qualified cornerbacks.

Among cornerbacks to play at least 80 percent of their team's defensive snaps, only teammate Sauce Gardner and Denver Broncos star Patrick Surtain II allowed fewer yards than Reed, per PFF.

Reed also ranked top-six (using the same eligibility criteria) in catches allowed, catch percentage allowed, yards per reception, and yards after the catch allowed. By every metric, Reed was one of the premier players at his position in 2022.

It's easy to overlook Reed in such a talented Jets defense. After all, rookie Sauce Gardner stole many of the headlines following his historic 2022 season. Reed deserves his share of praise too, however.

When discussing NFL players whose talent and production often go overlooked and underappreciated, the conversation should start with D.J. Reed.