Ex-Falcon Brooks Reed signs with Cardinals
Defensive end Brooks Reed became the second player released by the Falcons to sign with the Arizona Cardinals.
Reed, who officially was released Thursday, joined cornerback Robert Alford with the Cardinals on Saturday.
Reed, 31, signed with the Falcons in 2015. He played in 60 games and made 34 starts.
He didn’t produce much as a pass rusher, as he had only seven sacks, but did a good job against the run.
The Falcons created $4.5 million in salary-cap space by releasing Reed.
Reed, who was drafted by the Texans, signed a five-year, $22.5 million deal March 10, 2015. He received $9 million guaranteed.
In the 2017 season opener against the Bears, Reed came up with a game-clinching sack in a 23-17 victory.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport tweeted that Reed's deal was worth about $2 million.
Reed, like Alford, was cut by the Falcons in a cost-cutting move. He played in all 16 games for the Falcons last season, starting half of them, with 24 tackles and a sack.
Reed is expected to move to outside linebacker in the Cardinals’ 3-4 scheme.
The Cardinals have signed several former Falcons in recent years.
In addition to Alford and Reed, the Cardinals signed former Falcons John Abraham (2013), Sean Weatherspoon (2015) and Corey Peters (2016). Peters played in 15 games and started 15 games last season for the Cardinals.
About the Author
Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
