Jordan Reed has developed into one of the best tight ends in the NFL. If he can stay healthy, he should be primed for a big 2017 campaign.
In 2013, the Washington Redskins took a risk with their third round pick. With only a couple of picks in the first three rounds, many expected that the Redskins would look to find some upgrades for their defensive backfield to improve their chances of succeeding with Robert Griffin III at the helm. Instead, the team took a young, converted quarterback to play tight end for them. The man was Jordan Reed.
At the time, tight end did not look like a primary need. The team had Fred Davis as the starter, and he had proven to be a quality option when on the field. Granted, he was coming off a torn Achilles, but many had expected that veteran Chris Cooley could just return until Davis was ready to come back. Instead, the Redskins chose to target Reed in the draft, and it paid off.
Reed has developed into one of the best players on the Redskins offense. Period. He has functioned as a midfield target for both Griffin and Kirk Cousins. He has an excellent skill set, and he gets better each year, as he continues to learn the ins and outs of the tight end position.
Of course, there are some concerns with Reed moving forward as well, particularly related to his health. With all of that said, let’s have a look at how Reed projects to fare during the 2017 NFL season.
Jordan Reed’s skill set
Since coming into the league, Reed has become a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. He has the size to be a jump ball threat, the athleticism to generate yards after the catch, and the acceleration and speed to be a deep threat in certain situations. He really is a monster, and has helped to make the Redskins passing offense so potent.
The place where Reed has proven to be most effective for the Redskins has been over the middle of the field. He and Jamison Crowder were the main men over the middle last season, and the two worked well to find space alongside one another. Reed just has a knack for getting open and once he is in space, his elusive athletic ability allows him to create more yardage after the catch.
Of course, it also helps Reed’s cause that he has a 6-foot-3 frame. This allows him to outjump defenders, particularly smaller linebackers and defensive backs, and grab balls that other receivers may not be able to get to.
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Though Reed has great size, it hasn’t necessarily turned into solid red zone performance. He has proven to be a touchdown threat before, he had 11 touchdowns in 2015, but in 2016, he was more likely to catch a longer touchdown pass than to win an end zone jump ball. Given the fact that the Redskins red zone offense was an issue last year, it’s fair to assume that the blame for this doesn’t fall squarely on Reed.
The major issue with Reed is his lack of durability. Over the course of his four NFL seasons, he has played in 46 of a possible 64 games. Making matters worse, Reed has never been healthy for a full 16 game slate, so he cannot be relied on. This makes the backup tight end position so important, and that is why the team re-signed Vernon Davis this offseason.
Unfortunately, it appears to be the same old story with Reed in 2017. He is currently on the PUP list with a toe injury and there is no timetable for his return. Until he can prove that he can stay healthy, this will be the major knock on Reed across league circles.
Expectations for Jordan Reed
With the departures of DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon in the offseason, Reed could play a bigger role for the Redskins in the upcoming year. Terrelle Pryor should be a potential top receiver, but he will need a little time to learn the offense. Meanwhile, youngster Josh Doctson will need to adjust to the NFL game as well. That will leave Reed and Crowder as the top two options for Cousins during the early months of the season.
However, the toe injury makes things far less certain. Because Reed has shown a tendency to get hurt during the season, the Redskins seem likely to approach his return with caution. Though they would like to see Reed ready for Week 1, they would rather have Reed close to 100 percent during a potential stretch run.
There is no guarantee that Reed is going to be ready to play early in the season. There’s a chance he could miss a couple of games. There’s a chance that he could be fully healthy by the season’s start. But at the end of the day, his track record would state that at some point, he is liable to miss a game.
Next: Terrelle Pryor - Redskins top wide-out?
Because of the injury issues, I am a bit worried about Reed coming into 2017. When on the field, he will definitely post quality numbers, as he has for the entirety of his career. But if he is never fully 100 percent, it is fair to assume that he will have a season that closer resembles his solid 2016 campaign than his career year in 2015.