Seahawks Hopeful Pending Free Agent Jarran Reed Will Return in 2025

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Far from content with the state of their defensive line, the Seattle Seahawks have sights set on keeping one of their key veteran contributors in the fold with free agency just around the corner.

Speaking with reporters from the annual NFL combine on Wednesday, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald expressed confidence that the team would be able to re-sign defensive tackle Jarran Reed, citing his on-field contributions as well as invaluable leadership in the locker room as reasons why the organization should be motivated to bring him back for a 10th season.

"I certainly hope so. I mean, I'm confident on how J-Reed feels about us. And he knows how we feel about him," Macdonald said.

Drafted in the second round out of Alabama by the Seahawks in 2016, Reed saw extensive action as a reserve during his rookie season and has been a valued contributor in seven seasons over two separate stints with the franchise. Prior to teammate Leonard Williams producing 11 sacks last season, he was the last defensive tackle to eclipse double digit sacks for Seattle, joining Hall of Famers Cortez Kennedy and John Randle as the third player at the position in team history to achieve the feat back in 2018.

After seeing his numbers decline with two sacks amid a suspension-shortened 2019 season, Seattle re-signed Reed on a two-year deal, but the organization released him as a cap casualty prior to the start of free agency a year later. He spent one season in Kansas City and one season in Green Bay before returning to the Pacific Northwest in 2023, enjoying a bit of a career renaissance with seven sacks for the Seahawks in 2023.

Paired with Williams and first-round pick Byron Murphy rotating in at defensive tackle this past season, Reed turned in steady numbers once again, registering 45 combined tackles, 4.5 sacks, two swatted passes, a forced fumble, and 15 quarterback hits, the second-highest total in his nine-year career. Per Pro Football Reference, he finished in the top 15 among defensive tackles in quarterback pressures and quarterback hits while missing just a single tackle defending the run, exemplifying his rock solid performance in all facets as a front line chess piece in Macdonald’s defense.

Set to turn 33 years old in December, if there’s a reason why Seattle wouldn’t re-sign Reed, his presence playing 3-tech defensive tackle cut into Murphy’s opportunities to show what he can do as a pass rusher. The same could be said for veteran nose tackle Johnathan Hankins, who will also be a free agent and took a portion of Murphy’s potential snaps as a nose tackle in 2024.

But while Macdonald wants Murphy to see more snaps where he can flash his pass rushing skills next season, he doesn’t see that creating a problem where Reed couldn’t return and still make a substantial impact.

“We'll see how it goes,” Macdonald added. “We love J-Reed. We loved Hank. And, say everybody's back: We'll figure out ways to get more opportunities."

Assuming Reed re-signs, Seattle will have an excellent nucleus once again featuring a fun blend of talented veterans and high-upside youngsters, including Mike Morris and a healthy Cameron Young still on rookie contracts. If one or both of those players take a significant step forward, one of the team’s greatest strengths could be even better for Macdonald’s unit without any splashy additions in free agency or the draft.

But as the Eagles proved by further stocking the cupboard in the trenches last offseason to help build a Super Bowl champion, there’s no such thing as too much depth along the defensive line, and Macdonald confirmed that the Seahawks will remain active pursuing reinforcements in coming weeks regardless of what happens with Reed’s contract situation.

“There's going to be great competition in our D-line, because you only put four out there for the most part when it's pass rush opportunity. The best four need to stack those reps so we they can rush at a high level. It takes a lot. There's a lot of unspoken chemistry that it takes to rush four as a unit, and you got to stack those reps. Again, you can never have a deep enough D-line. You're never going to go into the season like, ‘Yep, we're good on the D-line.’ I thought we were loaded last year, and we're fortunate with some of the long term injuries… You always want to be full strength.