Grading Seahawks re-signing of defensive tackle Jarran Reed

The Seahawks officially re-signed Jarran Reed on Wednesday. Will Reed be the player in the future that he was in 2018? Or 2019?

The Seahawks don’t make splash signings in free agency on day one. That fact drives 12s crazy. But it is a fact but also does not mean that the Seahawks are not going to be successful. Seattle seems to find ways to get back to the playoffs almost every year. One has to trust their decisions. So a 12 would need to believe that Seattle is right in re-signing defensive tackle Jarran Reed.

The question about Reed is which version of himself will he be? Seattle needs him to be the best imitation of himself in 2020 and moving forward, especially as Seattle still hasn’t re-signed Jadeveon Clowney. Seattle’s pass rush was atrocious in 2019 and on paper it is worse in 2020. At least, right now at this stage of free agency.

However, if Seattle can get Clowney back and Reed turns back into his 2018 edition where he had 10.5 sacks and 24 quarterback hits and 12 tackles for loss, then Seattle’s line should be solid. But if Reed returns in 2020 like he left 2019 when Reed had just 2 sacks in 10 games and exactly zero tackles for loss then Seattle could miss the playoffs.

Seattle is going to pay Reed $23 million over two years. That is maybe a bit more than he would have gotten from other teams, but the Seahawks also couldn’t take the chance that some random team is willing to pay Reed something like $14 million a year.

For Seattle not to bring back Reed and/or Clowney and then not have anyone of quality to take their places would be truly bad. Seattle has done the first part. They re-signed Reed. Now they need to get Clowney back too. And maybe another good pass rusher. They have the money to do that.

Grade: B