It takes tough decisions for teams to win a Super Bowl. The choices only get harder for organizations trying to repeat as champions. Veteran defensive tackle Jarran Reed and the Seattle Seahawks might learn that the hard way this summer.
On Sunday, Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton named the best player who could be cut from every NFL roster this offseason. For the Seahawks, Moton picked the 33-year-old defensive tackle.
Reed will be entering his 11th NFL season this fall. Each of the past two seasons with Seattle, the defensive tackle has started fewer games than the previous campaign.
“The NFL is mostly a young man’s game. Jarran Reed enters his age-34 term, and the Seattle Seahawks can save $3.9 million if they release him after June 1,” wrote Moton.
“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.”
Last season, Reed only started three of the 13 games in which he played. The veteran posted 31 combined tackles, including three for loss. He also had eight quarterback hits and 2.5 sacks.
Could Seahawks Cut Defensive Lineman Jarran Reed?
The writing could be on the wall for Reed. In his first season back with the Seahawks in 2023, he played 72% of the team’s defensive snaps in his 16 games. Reed also started every contest.
During 2024, Reed only started eight games. That was his fewest in a single season since his rookie campaign. But the good news for Reed was he still played 680 defensive snaps.
Last season, though, Reed’s playing time decreased again. He lined up for career-low 398 defensive snaps in 13 contests.
Reed has two year remaining on his contract and will have a $7.38 million cap hit during 2026. That’s a sizable cap charge for Reed if he doesn’t play more in 2026.
The Seahawks drafted Reed at No. 49 overall in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Reed finished his rookie contract and then signed a 2-year extension with the Seahawks.
Seattle, though, released the defensive tackle with one year left on that extension.
In 2021 NFL free agency, Reed signed a 1-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs. He inked another 1-year agreement with the Green Bay Packers the following spring.
During 2023, Reed returned to the Seahawks on a 2-year contract. He signed a 3-year extension last offseason.
Reed has made about $44.83 million in his NFL career.
How Seahawks Could Replace Reed
Seattle has phased out Reed on defense as defensive tackle Byron Murphy II has begun playing a larger role.
As a rookie in 2024, Murphy started nine games. He then saw his defensive snaps jump from 457 in 2024 to 786 in 2025, cutting into Reed’s playing time.
Still, it’s worth wondering if the Seahawks would really want to cut Reed to save under $4 million. Even with less playing time, Reed was fourth among Seattle defensive linemen in snaps last season, and two of those other linemen, Leonard Williams and DeMarcus Lawrence, mostly played along the edge.
If the Seahawks are going to replace Reed next season, they will have to be confident seventh-rounder Deven Eastern will be ready for a major role. Undrafted free agent rookie Uso Seumalo might have to be a factor too for Reed to be expendable.
Brandon Pili, Bubba Thomas, and J.R. Singleton are other interior defensive linemen on the Seahawks roster this offseason.
Seahawks $44 Million ‘Fan Favorite’ Pegged 2026 Cut Candidate