2016 NFL Draft Profile: Jarran Reed, DT Alabama

By Chris Schisler | Mar 20, 2016

Feb 28, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Jarran Reed participates in workout drills during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Jarran Reed Is Strong As An Ox, Is He An Option For the Ravens?

Jarran Reed is a 6’3″ 307 lbs. defensive tackle with a lot of power. This is your classic space eating defensive tackle, the kind the Baltimore Ravens are sure to love. He can blow up plays in the backfield and make running backs bounce plays outside. Reed isn’t the quickest athlete on the field, but if he catches you, he is a great tackler.

Reed’s production doesn’t really show up in the box score. Sure he may rack up some tackles, but he’ll never have flashy stats next to his name. Reed does the dirty work that is life as an interior defensive lineman. Reed takes on double teams, can two-gap very well and doesn’t get pushed backwards. He is a rock in the middle of the defense, that makes the inside rushing attack an uphill battle for opposing offenses.

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Strengths

Reed has great strength, he can out muscle anybody on the field.
Reed can take on double teams with success, and when he does it frees other players to make plays in the backfield.
Reed is a space eater, he fills his gap and is perfect for a 3-4 defense that is predicated on the two-gapping technique.
Reed has an explosive first step, he doesn’t waste any movement firing out of his stance.

Concerns:

Reed is strong as an ox but he is as slow as one two. He is all power and needs a bit more quickness.
Reed isn’t a good pass rusher. He is very limited as anything more than a run stuffing defensive tackle.

Where Should He Be Drafted:

I have a hard time drafting a defensive lineman that doesn’t pass rush early in the first round. This is a player that I love in the second round, and I can live with him in the late first round. He does provide great value. He is a run stuffing nose guard who could probably compete to be the Worlds Strongest Man. In the second round he has great value. In the first round, there are more multi-dimensional players that can have a greater impact on the front seven.

Next: 2016 NFL Draft: AFC North Team Needs

The Baltimore Ravens have bigger needs than defensive tackle. They need pass rushers, cornerbacks and offensive linemen. This is somebody I would keep an eye on, not because of team need but because Reed is such a fit for the Ravens.

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