Washington Redskins sign tight end Jordan Reed to five-year extension
Thursday 5 May 2016 16:20, UK
The Washington Redskins have signed Pro Bowl tight end Jordan Reed to a five-year contract extension.
The deal, which is reportedly worth $50m with $22m guaranteed, will keep the 25-year-old Reed in Washington through 2021.
Reed, who was the team's third-round pick out of Florida in 2013, had his best season last year, with career highs in catches (87), yards (952) and touchdowns (11).
He also had a big game in Washington's post-season loss to Green Bay, catching nine passes for 120 yards and a touchdown.
Despite his breakout season in 2015, Redskins head coach Jay Gruden believes Reed is only beginning to scratch the surface of his vast potential.
"He can get a lot better, that's the scary part," Gruden said. "He is a very natural gifted route running tight end with natural hands and great ability to run after the catch.
"As he gets bigger, more confident, bigger frame as he works out with [strength and conditioning] coach [Mike] Clark in the weight room, he's going to be more of an impact in the running game which is only going to help him also in the passing game with the play actions.
"So he's going to keep getting better and better, got to keep in healthy, he's got to keep working and great things will be on the horizon for Jordan."
The biggest concern to date with Reed is his ability stay healthy. He missed Week 5 and 6 of the 2015 season with a concussion and he has played in just 34 of 48 possible regular-season games to date in his career.
Reed becomes the third tight end to sign a big-money extension in the NFL this off-season, following Zach Ertz of the Philadelphia Eagles (five years, $42.5m) and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs (five years, $46.8m).
