According to a tweet from NFL draft analyst Josh Norris, the Carolina Panthers will meet with safety prospect Justin Reid in April.
Stanford S Justin Reid has 5 visits scheduled for April:#Eagles #Lions#Steelers#Panthers#Seahawks pic.twitter.com/Bzau8YX2Ol
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) March 18, 2018
WalterFootball ranks Reid as the No. 4 overall safety prospect in the draft.
Justin Reid, S, Stanford
Height: 6’0” | Weight: 207 lbs
Arm: 31.63” | Hand: 9.75”
40 Time: 4.40
Projected Round (2018): 1-33/17/18: Reid played really well for a lot of 2017, impressing NFL scouts. Sources who are tough graders said they think Reid has early-round potential for the 2018 NFL Draft. They say that Reid doesn’t have Earl Thomas-like range as a free safety or Kam Chancellor-like size as a strong safety, but he does everything well. Reid is a good free or strong safety with the ability to run and tackle. They say that he is a polished, clean, good all-around safety similar to HaHa Clinton-Dix coming out of Alabama. Evaluators said that Reid didn’t close out the season as well and had some rough tapes late in the year, including a game against USC in which the Trojans targeted him and exploited him in man coverage on slot receivers all night. That could end up pushing him to Day 2 in the 2018 NFL Draft.
In 2017, Reid notched 99 tackles with six passes broken up and five interceptions. Stanford also used Reid as a slot cornerback, and while he was able to do that somewhat, he was picked on repeatedly by USC in the Pac-12 Championship Game. Reid is a well-rounded safety, but probably shouldn’t play a ton of slot corner in the NFL.
Reid totaled 57 tackles with seven breakups as a sophomore. Reid is the younger brother of 49ers safety Eric Reid, a first-round pick out of LSU in 2013.
CSR’s own Billy Marshall did a film room scouting report on Reid a little over a week ago, and he came to the following conclusion:
In an effort to get younger and faster in the secondary, the Panthers recently parted ways with Kurt Coleman. Justin Reid is an ideal replacement from a coverage standpoint. His primary role was to act as a nickel defender in Stanford’s scheme. Reid’s man coverage skills translate well into a true safety role. He has fluid hips, understands multiple zone concepts, and is a ball hawk. Reid has to temper his aggressiveness and clean up his pursuit angles, but he would be a great fit in Eric Washington’s defense.
My take
I like Reid a lot and would be perfectly content with the Panthers drafting him at No. 24 overall. Carolina simply cannot go into the 2018 season with Colin Jones and Mike Adams as their starting two safeties, and even if the coaching staff believes that’s a good idea, they still need depth. Either drafting a safety or finding one in free agency is a must this offseason. If there aren’t any better options on the board when the Panthers are set to make their first round pick, taking Reid to shore up the safety depth chart wouldn’t be the worst decision they could make.
What do you think, Panthers fans? Would you like to see Justin Reid in Carolina? Share your thoughts with us!
Poll
Would Justin Reid be a good pick at No. 24 overall?
This poll is closed
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45%
Yes - we need a safety
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7%
No - we have bigger needs
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46%
Maybe - depends on who’s available