Carolina Panthers solidify one safety position with Eric Reid
Carolina Panthers sign safety Eric Reid to a three-year contract.
Eric Reid signed with the Carolina Panthers last season after injuries left their safety position depleted. Da’Norris Searcy started opposite Mike Adams to start the season on the back end of the Panthers defense, but an early concussion landed the former on injured reserve.
Left with veteran backup Colin Jones and rookie Rashaan Gaulden as serviceable replacements, general manager Marty Hurney elected to sign Reid, who had been a free agent. The former first-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers had been out of football since the 2017 season.
Widely believed to have not been given an opportunity due to his support of quarterback Colin Kaepernick and continued protest of social injustice during the playing of the national anthem, Reid signed a one-year deal with Carolina.
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Immediately he was placed into the starting lineup and after missing only a quarter of the season, Reid tallied 71 tackles and one interception in 13 games. Reid, who maintains a collusion case against the NFL, believes he was targeted multiple times following games for random drug tests and it will be interesting to see if the trend continues during the 2019 season.
Set to become a free agent, Reid signed a three-year contract with the Panthers as Hurney attempts to reload a roster expected to endure a lot of turnover this offseason. Already, the team has indicated it will not re-sign Thomas Davis and both Ryan Kalil along with Julius Peppers have opted for retirement.
These departures leave openings at linebacker, center and defensive end, in addition to another possible vacancy at safety. Adams will be 38 years old when the season arrives and is also set to become a free agent.
Carolina may turn to Searcy again or elect to find another option either in free agency or through the NFL Draft. Regardless, Hurney has already hammered down at least one starting position and more moves are expected.
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Reid performed well enough last season to warrant a long-term contract and although three years isn’t much, it at least helps solidify an area of the roster in need of improvement for some time.