The Jets have themselves a new starting cornerback.
Joe Douglas turned his attention to New York’s secondary on Sunday, inking former Colts corner Pierre Desir to a one-year deal worth $5.5 million in guaranteed money. Indianapolis made the surprising decision to cut Desir one year into a three-year contract extension, but he did not last long on the open market as the Jets pounced to give Gregg Williams a ballhawk to work with.
So, what should Jets fans know about their newest free agent acquisition? Let’s get familiar with Desir and what he brings to the table.
A unique journey to the NFL
Desir’s journey to the NFL is different than almost any other player in the league. Not only did he have to scrap and claw to get noticed playing at a small school, but he had to overcome circumstances that put his football career in jeopardy dating all the way back to high school.
Desir was not an academic qualifier coming out of high school and was not eligible to play Division I football despite being All-State in Missouri. He took his talents to Division II Washburn University in 2012 but was forced to leave the school as the football program ran short on scholarship money.
Desir returned home with his now-wife, Morgan, and two daughters to benefit from the help of family. He enrolled at nearby Lindenwood University, but was forced to sit out a year due to NCAA transfer rules. In order to pay tuition and support his family, Desir worked long hours as a day laborer, placing him further away from the football field than he ever could have imagined.
Fast forward to 2020 and Desir is an established starting NFL cornerback. That’s one heck of a journey for a player who had to put his football dreams on hold for a while.
Division II star
It takes a lot for Division II players to get noticed. With scouts’ eyes on Division I and I-AA prospects throughout the year, Division II prospects have to put up eye-popping numbers in order to garner any sort of attention.
Desir did exactly that throughout his four seasons at Washburn and Lindenwood. In his first two seasons at Washburn, he intercepted 12 passes. In his senior year at Lindenwood, he picked off nine.
Desir’s production led to invites to college all-star games and the NFL scouting combine. The Browns selected him in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL draft and the rest is history.
From No. 6 to No. 1
Desir’s ascension to NFL starter began with the Colts in 2017, but he was originally meant to be nothing more than a depth piece for a team in need of some early-season help.
After bouncing around with the Chargers and Seahawks, Desir caught on with the Colts. Upon his arrival in Indianapolis, head coach Chuck Pagano listed Desir as the sixth cornerback on the depth chart. That did not last long, though, as Desir quickly surpassed Nate Hairston, Quincy Wilson and Kenny Moore in the pecking order. He eventually replaced Vontae Davis as the top corner after the latter’s release in November.
Desir’s season came to a premature end due to a shoulder injury, but his rise earned him respect around the league and a starting spot in Indianapolis’ secondary.
A man of the people
Ever since the coronavirus pandemic began, Desir has been looking for a way to help those in need.
While staying at home with his kids and looking for a way to stay in shape, Desir decided to make a donation large enough to provide more than 20,000 meals to struggling families in his hometown of St. Louis.
“For me, I understand that most of the kids in the poverty-stricken areas of St. Louis, the meals that they get at school are very important to them,” Desir told the IndyStar. “I just wanted to do my part. I reached out to the St. Louis Food Bank to see what I could do to help.”
The Jets have had many charitable players walk through their doors in recent years. If Desir’s generosity to the people of St. Louis and desire to give back to the place he grew up are any indication, it looks like he is the latest such player to arrive at One Jets Drive.
