Up to this point, the Chicago Bears free agency approach has been simple. That’s getting as much help for Mitch Trubisky as possible. Allen Robinson was secured early and tight end Trey Burton soon followed. They even gave the special teams some love with the deal for young kicker Cody Parkey. So what does Vic Fangio have to do to get a little help?
To this point the only defensive news for Chicago has been hearing that linebacker Christian Jones signed with Detroit. A minor step backward if nothing else. To be fair the market is far from depleted, especially on the defensive side of the ball. There are many quality names still available and the Bears have money left to spend.
As stated before the Bears coaching staff has more sway in personnel decisions this year. That means Fangio is able to pinpoint whomever the team decides to target on defense. It’s becoming clear they might be trying to make a run at a former acquaintance. A source told me that he wishes to reunite with former Pro Bowl safety Eric Reid.
“Fangio has set his sights on safety Eric Reid. Bears really want him.”
Vic Fangio can create a fascinating situation with Eric Reid
Reid is among the more under-the-radar names in free agency. Rather shocking since he’s been to a Pro Bowl and is just 26-years old. Then again that’s the product of playing a team that went through as much turmoil as the San Francisco 49ers did the past four years. He badly needs a fresh start. Getting together with the coach who helped draft him makes perfect sense.
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Reid was a different player during the two years he played for Fangio. Between 2013 and 2014 he had seven interceptions and 19 passes defended. In the three years after Fangio left, he’s managed three interceptions and 17 passes defended. The difference in productivity is rather shocking, and proof they mesh so well together.
Ex-49ers S/LB Eric Reid at 38. Forget the anthem crap; watch his tape in 2017 and see how he seamlessly moved from traditional safety to a more nuanced roving linebacker position. Very underrated guy who can do a lot of things VERY well.
— Doug Farrar (@BR_DougFarrar) March 13, 2018
Reid is 26-years old. For a safety, he’s big and athletic. Many fans may say that the Bears are just fine with Adrian Amos but facts are facts. Reid had quadruple the interceptions in his first year that Amos has had in his entire career. Fangio wants more takeaways and it’s clear Reid could provide them when he played the back end for this system. The idea of pairing him with Eddie Jackson has to excite some people at Halas Hall.
Whether they can get him? That’s the big question. The connection is obvious but Reid undoubtedly has a healthy market of teams who are interested. It will still take a considerable financial investment to make this happen.
