Among the Kansas City Chiefs’ many offseason changes over the last few months revolves around departed safety Justin Reid. He was an instrumental part of the defense for three years during a dynastic run, making the Super Bowl in every season he spent with the organization, yet now he’s moved on to the New Orleans Saints.
Reid was a beloved, active member of the community. He’ll be missed both on and off the field, though it’s possible that Reid will miss Kansas City even more than Chiefs Kingdom will miss him.
Now relegated to a team devoid of leadership with a disastrous salary cap situation and no quarterback of the future, the Saints have one of the bleaker outlooks in the entire NFL.
Justin Reid Will Regret Leaving Chiefs for Saints in Free Agency
In fairness to Reid, it doesn’t sound like the exit was his choice. He earned the three-year, $39 million contract he received from New Orleans, yet Chiefs general manager Brett Veach never seemed to express interest in offering anything close to Reid’s value.
He’s been preparing for the 28-year-old safety’s exit for the last couple of years, drafting both Bryan Cook and Jaden Hicks with mid-to-high picks. Veach has famously never re-signed a member of the secondary, and Reid now seems to be following in the footsteps of Tyrann Mathieu, who joined the Saints following a similar three-year deal with the Chiefs.
That doesn’t mean that Reid won’t be missed though. His locker room presence was invaluable, and he was a key voice to help relay defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s play calls alongside linebacker Nick Bolton. For someone as competitive as Reid, it’s still a punch in the gut to know he likely won’t sniff the playoffs for the foreseeable future.
Even if he does, the Saints have no chance to compete for a Lombardi Trophy without a major change in the quarterback room and front office. Mickey Loomis seemingly has a lifetime contract and his cap management pales in comparison to his peers, partially indicated by paying Reid top dollar despite having a roster in desperate need of a rebuild.
Regardless, Reid will be fondly remember as a critical part of these last three years. He’s a pro’s pro and deserves better than what’s likely to come for him during the length of this contract.
