Seahawks position preview: Defensive tackle breakdowns, starters and cuts
Jarran Reed
Age: 27
Contract: 2 years $23 million (1st year)
2019 Stats: 2.0 sacks, 27 tackles, 0 TFL, 8 QB hits
I discussed Reed going into 2020 a few weeks ago, so let me insert some relevant snippets from that post.
“In 2018 Jarran Reed was a monster. 10.5 sacks, 50 tackles, 24 QB hits, and 12 tackles for a loss. Many were frustrated that he did not make the 2018 Pro Bowl roster, but he could not parlay his 2018 success into a potential pro bowl nod in 2019. Reed was suspended for the first six games of the 2019 season and then once he returned he had little production.”
The 2019 stats above show the story of 2019 Jarran Reed. The advanced statistics were not great either as he only scored a PFF grade of 60.4.
Another snippet from my post that’s relevant discusses Reed’s contract.
“Reed is also in jeopardy of being cut, as his contract only has two years left on it, with the last year having a potential cap hit of $0 if he’s cut, and a $14 million cap hit if he makes the roster. He will have to perform as he did in 2018 if he is going to earn the final year of his contract.”
Poona Ford
Age: 24
Contract: 3 Years $1,718,000 (3rd year)
2019 Stats: 0.5 sacks, 32 tackles, 5 TFL, 3 QB hits
Ford is heading into his third year in the NFL after being signed as an undrafted free agent out of Texas in 2018. He has been an absolute steal as he has turned himself into a very serviceable defensive tackle in a traditional run-stuffing role.
As the main defense statistics don’t really do interior lineman justice, I like to look at PFF grades. In 2018 Poona had an outstanding PFF grade of 90.3, but in 2019 he only graded out at 73.4.
Heading into a contract year Ford will be in the same group as Reed, trying to earn their payday.
Bryan Mone
Age: 24
Contract: 1 year $675,000
Mone made the Seahawks roster last year out of camp and then bounced between the active roster and the practice squad, ultimately playing in four games in 2019. The Seahawks brought the run stuffer, who had virtually no production in his limited snaps his rookie season, back for another year and he will compete to be one of the backups behind Reed and Ford.
Demarcus Christmas
Age: 25
Contract: 4 years $2,647,840 (2nd year)
Christmas started and finished last season on the P.U.P. list, meaning that the 2019 sixth-round pick could make his first Seahawks appearance this season. With Seattle’s lack of depth at DT Christmas could do more than just make his first appearance, as he has a real chance at contributing in the interior with only Reed, Ford, and Mone ahead of him in terms of NFL experience.
Cedrick Lattimore
Age: 22
Contract: 3 years $2,288,000 (Rookie)
Lattimore is a part of the large undrafted free agent group that Seattle brought in for camp, and he is also a guy who has a real shot at making the team. With the number of DT’s on the Seahawks roster likely to be four, and only three DT’s with NFL experience, Lattimore has a decent change of making the roster or practice squad. At Iowa, Lattimore played a little bit more every season, and his stats improved accordingly. Nothing too crazy, but he was a solid run-stuffing d-lineman who had 6 sacks during his time in college.
Josh Avery
Age: 24
Contract: 3 years $2,287,500 (Rookie)
Avery went to college at Southeast Missouri State and impressed enough on a very small stage to earn an undrafted free agent contract. Avery, as well as Lattimore, is a guy who will benefit from Seattle’s lack of depth at DT and could make the roster. There is not much out there on Avery, but Corbin Smith of Seahawks Maven has a breakdown of Avery and his experience on YouTube.