Redskins ink Jordan Reed for four years

Former Florida Gators tight end Jordan Reed agreed to a four-year contract with the Washington Redskins on Friday, officially becoming the third player out of Florida on Washington’s roster for the 2013 season.

The No. 85 overall pick in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft, Reed signed for $2.71 million with a $549,112 fully guaranteed signing bonus and will average $677,278 per season before becoming an free agent in 2017.

Reed is the fifth of the Gators’ eight draftees to come to terms with the team that selected him in April’s draft. Only first-round defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd (Minnesota), first-round safety Matt Elam (Baltimore) and sixth-round S Josh Evans (Jacksonville) remain unsigned as of press time.

Reed initially committed to Florida as a quarterback and did not settle into his new role as a tight end until his redshirt sophomore season when he registered 307 yards on 28 receptions with two touchdowns. He became a more reliable pass catcher for the Gators as a redshirt junior, leading the team in receptions (45) and receiving yards (559) last season but finding his way into the end zone on just three occasions.

The Redskins are intrigued by Reed’s athleticism and believe he can be an H-back who is split out wide more often than not as a target for quarterback Robert Griffin III.

“When he has the ball in his hands, he can do things with the ball that are very athletic, something a lot of tight ends can’t do,” head coach Mike Shanahan said “We weren’t necessarily looking for a tight end, but when he was there, we couldn’t pass him up.”

Reed will join QB Rex Grossman and guard Maurice Hurt on Washington’s roster.