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Chicago Bears: 3 potential Free Agent targets

By Parker Hurley

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 12: Connor Barwin #98 of the Los Angeles Rams sacks Tom Savage #3 of the Houston Texans during the first half of the game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 12: Connor Barwin #98 of the Los Angeles Rams sacks Tom Savage #3 of the Houston Texans during the first half of the game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 26: Eric Reid #35 celebrates after intercepting a pass against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – NOVEMBER 26: Eric Reid #35 celebrates after intercepting a pass against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Eric Reid

This is going to come off as a controversial take. I truly have no standing either way on any of that. I watch football. Eric Reid is good at football. It seems as though the market for Reid is nonexistent. Assuming that he would come in on a somewhat cap friendly deal at this point, why would the Chicago Bears not be interested in improving their football team?

I know the first thing Bears fans will say “we already have two good safeties, why add Reid.” That is true, but the NFL is moving into a nickel and dime league. Teams, like the Chicago Bears, are adding pass-catching running backs and tight ends to force teams to bring in pass defenders who also have to be efficient against the run.

This is Eric Reid. Last season, in a new defense, the team needed a dime linebacker. Eric Reid took on the role and was excellent. He showed the ability to close quickly on the ball in space and make a form tackle for no gain.

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Watch Reid on the left side motion out and back into the screen presnap. He motions with the tight end, however, he stays gap discipline as the tight end motions back and sniffs out the screen. Reid evades the block and makes the tackle.

Now, we see Reid in coverage. He is lined up in man on Jimmy Graham. He plays trail and gives Graham the over the top, knowing that Graham is arching to the sideline. Reid undercuts the route and makes the play on the football.

So, in nickel and dime situations, the Bears can elect to bring him in as a matchup player against specific running backs and tight ends. He is efficient in the box, and deep, meaning the team can shuffle him and Amos around in these sets to get the matchups that they want.

To add that type of depth and versatility at this stage of the offseason seems unbelievable. On top of that, Vic Fangio knows Reid well, having drafted him.

Fangio already brought back Aaron Lynch from the 49ers, is Reid the next fit on this defense? It would be a great addition and one in which Reid can prove his worth.

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