Seahawks should entertain idea of bringing Jarran Reed back
By Lee Vowell
This season, the Seattle Seahawks defensive interior was good against the run but did little in pass rush. The return of Jarran Reed could help fix that.
There was definitely some oddness between the Seahawks and Reed last offseason when Reed did not like the idea of Seattle wanting to restructure his contract. Last offseason, Seattle had some cap issues but this offseason they certainly do not. They can afford Reed if the two parties decide a reconciliation is a possibility.
Reed gives Seattle something they currently do not have from any of the defensive tackles on the roster. That is, Reed can chase down quarterbacks pretty consistently while Poona Ford and others do not. In 2021, Seattle’s DTs collectively had 5 sacks. 1.5 of those came from Ford in Week 18 alone, the last game of the year.
Reed signed with the Kansas City Chiefs before this past season and got off to a slow start while acclimating to his new team. But from Week 10 on, he had 2.5 sacks and 7 quarterback hits. Reed added another sack in the playoffs to go with 11 tackles in two games. Now Reed is a free agent again.
The Seattle Seahawks should re-sign Jarran Reed this offseason
In 2020 with the Seahawks, Reed had 6.5 sacks and 14 quarterback hits. And in 2018, Reed had 10.5 sacks and 24 quarterback hits. Reed is also still just 29 years old and stays healthy. He hasn’t missed a game with injury since 2017 (He was suspended for six games of the 2019 season).
The point is that Reed will produce interior pass rush better and more consistently than anyone else the Seahawks currently have on the inside of the defensive line and he will also show up every game. Availability is a talent too and an important one.
Having a defensive tackle that can supply interior pressure also makes the edge rushers better. If a quarterback and offensive line have to focus on the complete line instead of what is just coming from the outside that means more one-on-one situations for players like Darrell Taylor and Carlos Dunlap. Seattle’s overall pass rush was bad for much of 2021 and Reed would help fix that problem.
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The issue with bringing Reed back isn’t money, either, Seattle has that. Offering Reed a $7-8 million per season contract wouldn’t be an issue (Reed made $5.5 million in 2021 with KC). But can Reed and John Schneider work out whatever differences they had last offseason is the question. If so, Reed should return.