Veteran safeties Kenny Vaccaro and Eric Reid might be good fits for the Chicago Bears to sign in the next wave of free agency.
The main wave of the 2018 NFL free agency is over, but there are still two intriguing players—safeties Kenny Vaccaro and Eric Reid—that the Chicago Bears could sign. The safety position for the Bears is not as big of an issue as it has been in recent years, but the team could still use some solid depth behind Adrian Amos and Eddie Jackson.
Vaccaro, a former first-round pick by the New Orleans Saints, is a versatile player who could be a “Swiss Army knife” in Vic Fangio’s defense. Vaccaro started last season as the Saints strong safety, but as the year went along, he moved to nickel cornerback. He was placed on injured reserve (core muscle surgery) after playing in 12 games, but has since declared himself fully healthy.
Reid, who has been outspoken about kneeling during the National Anthem, is another versatile player. He has played both safety positions in his career, and also saw time last season as a weak-side linebacker in the San Francisco 49ers defense. A first-round pick in 2013, Reid has experience playing for Fangio and had arguably his best season playing under him.
Both players come with some red flags — that’s why they have lasted so long in free agency — but either player could be a welcomed sight for the Bears. Eddie Jackson was very impressive as a rookie and Adrian Amos had a career-year in 2017. However, Amos has been inconsistent during his three-year career and Jackson had trouble staying healthy when in college.
Next: Bears: Drafting Quenton Nelson would be a mistake
Vaccaro (who has ties to Ryan Pace from New Orleans) and Reid would serve as great depth pieces and could even push Amos for his starting job. The upcoming draft has some very good safety prospects, but it’s unclear if the Bears would use a top-pick on one. Signing Vaccaro or Reid to a one-year, “prove-it” deal might be the best bet for the Bears to add talent to their secondary without having to break the bank.