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Free agent defensive tackle Jarran Reed is heading to the Kansas City Chiefs, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Defensive tackle Jarran Reed is expected to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs, per source. KC can pair Reed with Chris Jones to cause havoc inside.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 28, 2021
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport released the contract details, noting that it’s a one-year deal worth up to $7 million with $5 million guaranteed.
Reed, 28, first entered the league as a second-round pick made by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2016 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-3, 306-pound defensive tackle spent the last five seasons in Seattle, compiling 22.0 sacks, including 10.5 in 2018 and 6.5 in 2020. Reed played three seasons (2016-18) with defensive end Frank Clark and the move reunites them on Kansas City’s defensive line for at least the 2021 season.
ESPN’s Louis Riddick shared some insight as to how the Chiefs plan to deploy Reed, explaining that the move means that now-fellow defensive tackle Chris Jones might be used as an EDGE player on more downs, something he has made clear in the past he would favor.
Expect to see Chris Jones play more DE on first and second down, stay inside on 3rd down (was used like this in AFC Championship two years ago vs Titans).Reed acquisition going to make #Chiefs DL much better, more multiple.
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) March 29, 2021
Reed became available when the Seahawks opted to release him last week. The Seahawks were looking to restructure his contract, but Reed wanted a long-term deal. Instead, he took the one-year deal with Kansas City likely with eyes on a market with more cap space across the board next offseason.
Usually, cap conversions for space are easy. But Jarran Reed wanted a long-term commitment instead. When Seattle wouldn’t give it... the situation went to a bad spot. Now, parting ways. https://t.co/gwAhF11zVt
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 25, 2021
The NFL suspended Reed for the first six games of the 2019 season stemming from a potential domestic incident in 2017, though Reed was not charged or arrested after a police investigation.
Some of his new teammates have already weighed in on the addition.
https://t.co/1M9HRrsPfe pic.twitter.com/8enySmlvxC
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) March 29, 2021
something special https://t.co/wNAzQNBggG
— Chris Jones (@StoneColdJones) March 29, 2021