Chicago Bears Free Agency: 7 potential second wave value signings
By Ryan Heckman
S Eric Reid
The National Anthem saga is real, folks. Eric Reid is known for taking a knee alongside former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, but that’s beside the real point — he is a darn good football player.
Reid is a 26-year-old Swiss Army knife who may not be getting the attention he deserves due to his political stance. If you ask me, both he and Kaepernick deserve to have a job in the NFL — like, yesterday.
The sixth-year pro out of LSU played under Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio when he was in San Francisco and would be a huge asset to the defensive group. Would he start at safety? Probably not. Would he see the field frequently? Absolutely.
According to Pro Football Focus, Reid was their 30th ranked safety in 2017. While that doesn’t sound overly impressive, one must look beyond that number.
Eric Reid makes the hit and stop on third down and calmly walks off the field. #49ers pic.twitter.com/Pxo6lrYn5U
— Rob Lowder (@Rob_Lowder) December 31, 2017
Reid not only played safety in 2017, but also lined up at middle linebacker and slot cornerback at times. Kyle Shanahan praised Reid’s ability to play multiple positions and thus moved him around often. The man can hit hard and finish tackles. What’s not to like?
Over his five seasons, Reid has 10 career interceptions and has averaged over 60 tackles per campaign. If he continues to get the shaft by teams over the next few days, I would be very pleased if Pace brought him to Chicago — an instant asset to the defense.