Carolina Panthers: New defensive tackle is staring them in the face
By Dean Jones
Jarran Reed’s fit on the Carolina Panthers
At least from the outside looking in, this makes a ton of sense for the Carolina Panthers. The team released both Zach Kerr and Kawann Short this offseason, leaving them with just Derrick Brown, Morgan Fox, and Bravvion Roy as their interior options. So adding Jarran Reed to this group would be a welcome decision by the front office.
Slotting Reed alongside Brown would provide the veteran with plenty of opportunities to make his presence felt. The former Auburn standout was one of the league’s most double-teamed defensive tackles during his rookie campaign and it’s hard to envisage this changing with another offseason to develop under his belt.
With Haason Reddick, Brian Burns, and Yetur Gross-Matos coming off the edge, this has the scope for some incredible production. If the Panthers managed to acquire Reed, then they’d quickly become one of the best defensive fronts in football.
Spending some of their salary-cap space on Reed would free-up another draft pick to strengthen other areas of the field. This is another big potential benefit to his arrival that shouldn’t be overlooked and providing the price is right, Carolina could do far worse than look in his direction.
There is a chance of a team better positioned to make a Super Bowl run also placing a call to Reed’s agent, which would all-but end the Panthers’ chances of signing him. This is a market like no other and if Carolina attacks this quickly, it might pay dividends.