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Houston Texans Interested in Jarran Reed

By Josh McSwain

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
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 /
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With wide receiver and defensive line the two of the most pressing needs in next week’s draft, the Texans are looking at bringing in another Alabama defensive lineman.

Jarran Reed wasn’t recruited by Alabama. He came in as a transfer from East Mississippi Community College before the 2014 season. But watching tape of him last year, you wouldn’t know it. He stopped the run as well as any five star recruit nationwide did. That disruptiveness in the middle has caught team’s eyes and made him a potential first round pick.

Recently, a report came out linking the Texans, New York Jets, Carolina Panthers and San Diego Chargers as being interested in the Alabama product. This is curious because the Chargers are picking in the top five while the rest are picking 20th or later. Could the Chargers be looking at trading down in the first round or potentially trading up into the tail end of the first round to try and grab him?

This is a draft with plenty of options at defensive line. With the third pick San Diego could target either Joey Bosa or DeForest Buckner as a defensive lineman. But they have plenty of needs, so they could be exploring trading down.

With the Los Angeles Rams already having made a deal with the Tennessee Titans to acquire the first overall pick (a quarterback), if the Browns pass on either Jared Goff or Carson Wentz (whichever one the Rams don’t pick), there could be teams interested in moving up to the third spot to make sure they get the quarterback they want. So this means the Texans might have to move up if they are really interested in Reed.

The run defense was up and down last season, and Reed is an exceptional run defender. If the Texans go up and get him, they must be sure that he is the next in line at nose tackle after Vince Wilfork presumably leaves following next season.

Reed would be the second Crimson Tide lineman the Texans have, along with Jeoffery Pagan. The former sixth round pick played in 16 games his rookie year with 10 tackles, but was limited to just six games last season with one tackle.

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