Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed is in the midst of the best season of his three-year career. He’s already set a career high in solo tackles (28) and his 68.5 grade from Pro Football Focus is solidly above average for his position.
While he has long been thought of as an elite run-stuffing tackle, it has been his emergence as a pass-rusher that has caught the eye of not only the fans – but his head coach as well.
“He was a real dedicated run defender coming out,” Pete Carroll commented about Reed’s collegiate career at the University of Alabama. “We did not see him specializing in rushing the passer, his numbers weren’t great, and his first couple years [in the NFL] his numbers weren’t great either. He’s just emerged through his focus and dedication and hard work. He’s become a complete player.”
Reed recorded three combined sacks in his first two NFL seasons, a span of 30 games. So far in 2018, through just 12 contests, Reed has racked up 6.5 sacks. That total is second on the team (behind Frank Clark’s 10) and is tied for fourth among defensive tackles – behind Aaron Donald, DeForest Buckner and Geno Atkins.
Reed has also stepped into a leadership role on this very young Seahawks defense that lost a ton of veteran leadership from a year ago.
His emergence not just as a pass rusher but as a leader has made him a catalyst for Seattle’s surprising burst toward a playoff spot.
