An NFL analyst choosing to do an article about one player from each team that will be released is tough. There is a lot of guesswork, and the article is kind of cruel to the players as they make a livelihood playing in the NFL and don't want to lose their jobs. But Bleacher Report's Moe Moton created just such an article, and named Jarran Reed of the Seattle Seahawks.
Moton's thinking is that the move would save Seattle $3.9 million. A decent amount of money, but not what Seattle needs. The Seahawks still have plenty of money to spend this offseason, but no real reason to do so. The roster is set, and no trades for expensive players appear to be happening.
Moton writes, "Reed is a Seahawks fan favorite, so this move would cut deep among the 12s. Keep in mind that Seattle drafted seventh-rounder Deven Eastern, whom general manager John Schneider called a "monster." He could be Reed's replacement.
NFL expert believes Jarran Reed could be a cap casualty for the Seattle Seahawks
The Belacher Report NFL analyst knows his stuff, of course. This isn't about him having bad ideas, though the Reed release due to the team having Eastern is a stretch. The seventh-round pick is much more of a run-stopper than a pass-rusher, and Reed, even at 33 years old, is still quite good in that area.
Moreover, he is a great fit for what head coach Mike Macdonald wants to do. Reed understands how to play off fellow defensive linemen Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy II. The trio is formidable on obvious pass-rushing downs, and Eastern can't help with that, at least not in his first season in the NFL.
Jarran Reed also isn't an overly expensive player. His cap hit is $7.38 million, not an overly large amount for the kind of production Reed has provided for the Seahawks over the course of his career. The team is paying him to do a job, of course, and not just handing out money because of the past services he has given, but he's good at rushing the passer.
The defensive lineman did take a bit of a step back last season, however. He had just 2.5 sacks and 24 total pressures. He saw fewer snaps (46 percent, the lowest of his 10-year career), but received a mediocre pass-rush grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
In Eastern's entire college career, he only had 4.5 sacks. He simply is a different player than Reed, and the players should augment what the other does in 2026. Eastern could play on early downs, and Reed rotated in on passing downs. That way, both would stay fresh and highly efficient.
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