We wrap up our trip through post draft NFL free agency with the safeties. If there’s a position to rival linebacker as undervalued in the current NFL, it’s definitely these guys playing on the back end of the defense. That makes no sense to me.
Frankly, when you look at NFL history, other than a pass rusher, it’s a safety that’s probably the key player on most championship defenses. Whether it’s an Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu, Earl Thomas or Ronnie Lott, a star safety can flip a game at any time.
Here are the three best still in street clothes.
Eric Reid
2017: 66 tackles, one fumble recovery, four passes defended, two interceptions
Reid is currently the subject of a collusion grievance against the NFL along with his former teammate, Colin Kaepernick. Reid joined Kaepernick’s kneeling protest to shine a spotlight on police and state-sanctioned violence against innocent and unarmed people during the performance of the national anthem in 2016. He did it last year too feels as if it’s cost him a job.
Reid was offered a one-year contract to return to the San Francisco 49ers, but it was a pathetic offer, reportedly $500,000. Reid made $5.676 million last season in the final year of his rookie deal. Granted the market is bad for safeties and they’re undervalued, but that’s completely ridiculous.
For the record, Reid said he’d sign a one-year deal for the same money he made last season, which is less than what George Iloka makes for the Cincinnati Bengals and the same that Jahleel Addae makes for the Los Angeles Chargers, a guy who just lost his job to Derwin James in April’s NFL Draft.
Best fit: San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins
Kenny Vaccaro
2017: 60 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one fumble returned for a touchdown, seven passes defended, three interceptions
Like Reid’s continued unemployment, Vaccaro’s is awful fishy. He too protested during the anthem last season and while he’s not involved in the collusion case, it doesn’t make a lot of sense that a 27-year old former first rounder coming off the best year of his career doesn’t have a job this deep into free agency.
Vaccaro is a versatile guy who excels at playing close to the line of scrimmage, but has the ability (and did) to sub as a corner in nickle packages.
Best fit: Cincinnati Bengals, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals
Tre Boston
2017: 79 tackles, eight passes defended, five interceptions
Boston is 25 years old. Now realize that, look at those numbers and then shake your head over why he’s on his couch. We have no way of knowing every team or offer that’s come in with these guys and what they all might have turned down. It could be Boston’s asking price is too high.
Boston was with Los Angeles Chargers last season after three years with the Carolina Panthers. While he never protested during the anthem, he was vocal about the shooting death of Lamont Scott by a Charlotte police officer in 2016. While that has been brought up, it was two years ago and, again, all Boston did was try to organize something supporting Scott. It had nothing to do with the anthem so that might be a complete non-factor. Still, it’s weird he doesn’t have a job.
Best fit: Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
