The Seahawks released defensive tackle Jarran Reed on Friday, parting ways with a former second-round pick who has been a starter for the past four seasons.
Reed, who joined the Seahawks in 2016, has appeared in 72 games over five seasons, starting 63. He enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2018, recording 10.5 sacks after having only three in his first two seasons. That total made him just the third defensive tackle in team history, along with Pro Football Hall of Famers Cortez Kennedy and John Randle, to have a double-digit sack season.
Reed was suspended for the first six games of the 2019 season for a violation of the league's personal conduct policy, and he finished the season with 2.0 sacks and 27 tackles, but he bounced back with a strong 2020 campaign, starting all 16 games while recording 6.5 sacks, 38 tackles, five tackles for loss and 14 quarterback hits.
Releasing Reed means the Seahawks have to fill a starting defensive tackle spot alongside Poona Ford. Current in-house candidates include Bryan Mone and a pair of second-year players who spent most of last season on the practice squad: Cedrick Lattimore and Myles Adams. The Seahawks also have defensive ends who can play inside, particularly in passing situations, such as L.J. Collier and recent free-agent signing Kerry Hyder Jr., who has played defensive end and defensive tackle in his career.
