Pro Football Focus will be providing analysis for every major NFL signing and trade during the 2015 free-agency period, accounting primarily for the quality of the player and his fit with his new team and focusing less on the financial terms of the deal.
Here is the grade for the reported deal between Brooks Reed and the Atlanta Falcons.
Grade articles on every major deal
Atlanta Falcons: C-plus
With new coach Dan Quinn in Atlanta, the Falcons make their first move toward improving their defense with the signing of Brooks Reed from the Houston Texans. Reed never quite made the impact the Texans hoped as an edge-rusher, failing to post a positive pass-rushing grade in his four seasons, including a minus-13.6 grade in 2013 that ranked last in the league among 3-4 outside linebackers.
While he may not be a game-changer off the edge, Reed does provide some scheme versatility. There were rumblings that Houston wanted to move Reed to the middle, and he may have some value there, but he'll likely slot in as a strong-side linebacker in Atlanta's new system. He's a solid run-defender (plus-2.4 in 2014) and a sure tackler -- he missed just one tackle on every 20 attempts last season, ranking fourth among 3-4 outside linebackers -- so that should play well on the outside for the Falcons.
If the Falcons are looking for an impact pass-rusher, then Reed is not their guy, but as a player who provides some flexibility on the edge with the ability to play multiple linebacker spots, he should fit the bill.