Falcons Get Much Needed Linebacker Help in Brooks Reed
The Falcons signed linebacker Brooks Reed to a five year deal Tuesday afternoon, after the new Free Agency period started.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network broke the news Tuesday evening:
The #Falcons are signing LB Brooks Reed on a 5-year deal for $22M
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2015
Here’s some information about Brooks Reed via our NFL Mocks write ups:
"Brooks Reed is a former second round pick of the Houston Texans. He was drafted out of Arizona to be a pass rushing threat, but never really materialized into that. Reed was moved around the Texans defense but his best fit turned out to be at inside linebacker. The former Arizona product can be a thumper in the run game and offer solid interior pass rush at the same time. He’s not too shabby in pass coverage either. Reed is classic jack of all trades linebacker."
As the NFL Mocks resident Falcons fan, I’m a fan of this deal. Sean Weatherspoon was recently lost in Free Agency to the Arizona Cardinals leaving a huge hole at linebacker in new head coach Dan Quinn’s defense. The Falcons needed to upgrade their linebacking corp, and they found a solid upgrade in Brooks Reed, without overpaying.
Reed should also be able to help upgrade the Falcons pitiful pass rush. He might already be one of the best pass rushers on the roster — and he hasn’t even played a down yet in Atlanta. Dan Quinn gets a linebacker to fit his scheme that he’s bringing over from Seattle.
A five year, 22 million dollar deal is adequate for a player of Reed’s caliber.
Grade: B
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