New Orleans Saints 2016 NFL Draft Profile: Jarran Reed

Defensive tackle is still one of the biggest needs for the New Orleans Saints coming into the 2016 NFL Draft.  Jarran Reed can help solidify the position and bring a much need physical presence to the defensive line.

We continue our New Orleans Saints draft profile series with University of Alabama defensive tackle Jarran Reed, who could be a huge upgrade for the defensive line.

Measurables:
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 307 LBS
Arm Length: 33 3/8 inches
Hands: 10 ½ inches

Scouting Combine Results:
40-yard dash: 5.21 seconds
Vertical: 31 inches
Broad jump: 104 inches
3-cone drill: 7.77 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.75 seconds

Analysis:
Jarran Reed is a force in the middle and one of the best run defenders in this year’s NFL draft. He was dominant at the line of scrimmage and was an anchor on the defensive line.

Reed gives good effort and is relentless to the ball. Very rarely do you see him get pushed backwards. His strength and the way he uses his body to his advantage helps him shed blocks and disrupt the play.

He showed off his skills and versatility at the senior bowl by playing both defensive end and defensive tackle.  Reed never missed a tackle in 2015, showing how dependable he is when he gets his hands on the ball carrier, which happened a lot with a total of 56 run stops and four tackles for loss.

He seems to be a little under the radar, even though he’s one of the best players at his position in the class of 2016.  Expect Reed to be an instant contributor in the run defense department for whichever team drafts him.

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How he fits with the New Orleans Saints:
The New Orleans Saints need all the help they can get on defense. Adding a run-stuffing defensive tackle like Jarran Reed would be a nice start. Reed won’t be that flashy guy who gets all the sacks, but he would help do the dirty work of taking on double teams so other players such as Cameron Jordan and Hau’oli Kikaha could reap the benefits.

Reed would be a huge upgrade when it comes to run defense, and whoever is playing middle linebacker would love to have someone like Reed in front of him to make his life easier.   The Saints have had Jarran Reed in for a visit, so they obviously are interested, as he’ll very likely be there at pick 12 in the first round of the draft next week.

The defensive tackle spot is the deepest position in this year’s draft, so the New Orleans Saints could wait and draft a different need in the first round and then come back to the defensive tackle spot later on in the draft. However, if they went Reed with the 12^th overall pick, it would be a nice start to the draft and a big step forward for the defense.