Could Stanford’s Justin Reid become Malcolm Jenkins successor?
The Philadelphia Eagles may want to start building for the future at the Safety position. Justin Reid could be the perfect prospect for Malcolm Jenkins to teach.
As the 2018 NFL Draft approaches, Howie Roseman and the Philadelphia Eagles front office are finalizing some last-minute visits with college prospects. While some visits gained more traction than others, a few big names have flown under the Eagles radar over the last couple of months. One player of interest that hasn’t been discussed enough for the Eagles is Stanford safety, Justin Reid.
Heading into the Draft, it’s no secret that the Eagles are one of the most complete teams in the NFL. Meaning no matter who they select in the back end of the first round, there’s a high chance that player will be no more than a rotational piece in year one. In other words, the Eagles are in excellent shape as they work to defend their 2017 championship status.
While some NFL analysts would highlight offensive lineman and linebacker as the key positions in need, some forget that the Eagles lack depth at safety. The starting safety duo of Malcolm Jenkins and Rodney McLeod has been stellar, but everybody seems to ignore the quiet contributions from former Eagles veteran Corey Graham in 2017.
Graham finished out last season with 28 tackles and two interceptions. As the Eagles leave him jobless on the free agency market, could that mean they are eyeing a potential replacement through the draft? After all, there is a good chance that a perfect candidate like Justin Reid could fall to the Eagles at pick No. 32.
Making a case for Reid:
Justin Reid has tested very well at the NFL Combine this year. Now add in the fact that his game film is impressive, and you have a potential star for years to come entering into the league. Reid is far from your average safety, though. His versatility is what makes him great, and his many attributes could be the reason why the Eagles could and should be very interested.
During his Junior year at Stanford, Reid finished out his final season with a career-high of 94 tackles and five interceptions. Although his ordinary statistics look very good on paper, those numbers aren’t even his most impressive. As stated earlier, Reid is as versatile as they come. Sure, he is listed as a safety, but he also spent over 68-percent of his snaps elsewhere on the defense.
When you look at Reid’s game, some can’t help but think about how much he resembles Malcolm Jenkins. The Eagles veteran has played everywhere on the defense during his time in Philly. Cornerback, safety, linebacker, you name it, and Jenkins played it.
So while the Eagles show the league they are eyeing up some prime offensive prospects for the first round, there could be a chance that an ideal draft candidate like Reid slips into Eagles territory late in the first round. After all, he not only comes in as a perfect student for Jenkins, but he could issue some immediate help for the Eagles at the nickel cornerback position for 2018.