New San Francisco 49ers cornerback D.J. Reed, who had to wait until the fifth-round on Saturday to hear his name called, has a chip on his shoulder.
"Being a fifth-round draft pick, I honestly feel disrespected but I'm blessed the 49ers picked me up and I've got a lot to prove still," Reed told reporters via a conference call after being selected.
Another 49ers cornerback, Richard Sherman, was also a fifth-round selection back in 2011. He also plays with a chip on his shoulder and feels like he should have been selected higher. Given his illustrious NFL career, he is correct.
"Yeah, that's definitely going to stick with me until I'm done playing," Reed added. "I don't know, man, I just feel disrespected. But like I said, I'm happy, but I feel like I've got a lot to prove. A lot of corners went before me and that's definitely going to be something I'm going to remember."
While on the phone with him, the 49ers told Reed that he will play inside at the slot position. That's fine with Reed.
"Whatever I can do to help the team win, I'm going to do it," he said.
Reed called himself a playmaker when 49ers general manager John Lynch, who was passing by, overheard and interrupted the Bay Area reporters huddled around the phone while enthusiastically yelling, "That's what I'm talking about, D.J.!"
Reed went on to explain what makes him a playmaker.
"I mean, you just watch my film, I'm a lock-down corner, first and foremost," he continued after the interruption from his new boss. "I don't get scored on and then I get interceptions, I get my offense the ball and I'm a physical tackler. I create turnovers, which is the main thing, and I also do very well in kick return, punt return. So I mean, I feel like I'm the whole package. I'm an athlete, really"