The San Francisco 49ers have signed rookie cornerback D.J. Reed, who played college football at Kansas State. He was selected in the fifth round with the No. 142 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Only four of the team's nine draft picks remain unsigned. They are first-round pick Mike McGlinchey (OT, Notre Dame), second-round pick Dante Pettis (WR, Washington), third-round pick Fred Warner (LB, BYU), and sixth-round pick Marcell Harris (S, Florida).
Reed was a transfer from Cerritos Community College in Southern California and a former walk-on at Fresno State. His 19 passes defensed in 2016 were the fourth most in the FBS and helped him earn Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year honors. Reed contributed on kickoff returns during his sophomore season. He averaged 28.3 yards on nine returns.
In 2017, Reed hauled in four interceptions but missed the final two regular-season games of the season after sustaining an MCL sprain. He was able to play in the Cactus Bowl against UCLA.
Reed did not allow a reception longer than 30 yards in 2017 and surrendered a passer rating of 55.5 when targeted by quarterbacks, according to Pro Football Focus.
"I'm a lockdown corner, first and foremost," Reed told reporters via a conference call after being drafted by the 49ers. "I don't get scored on."
Thanks to the 2011 CBA, all rookie contracts are now for a length of four years. Only first-round selections come with an option for a fifth year, which does not apply to Reed. Having set numbers for each spot eliminates the need to negotiate salaries and only leaves items like bonus payment terms, roster bonus allocations, and other miscellaneous structural items.
The total value of Reed's four-year contract is believed to be $2,771,372, or very close to that amount, according to Over the Cap. That includes a signing bonus of $311,372 and a 2018 salary cap figure of $557,843.
