Justin Reid had a tumultuous start to his Chiefs tenure but came into his own in the second half of the season. He’s now expected to be a major component of what could be among the league’s best defenses.
610 Sports Radio’s Cody Tapp said yesterday on Cody & Gold that he expects an even bigger leap from Reid this season and that he may even be the most improved player on that side of the ball.
Justin Reid Improvement Changes the Defense
When discussing the defensive outlook, Tapp asked “Who is going to be the guy that takes that leap for the team?” The former Stanford star looks like a different player in training camp and appears equipped to become a bonafide leader on the defense.
Especially with uncertainty around Chris Jones’ contract and the newly-acquired Charles Omenihu’s six-game suspension to start the season, Kansas City needs defenders to step up.
I FINALLY get a chance at some consistency in a system for a second season and you better believe its gonna show up. My reign in this league has been long overdue
— Justin Reid (@JustinqReid) July 29, 2023
Gold noted that Reid “gained 10 pounds of muscle,” with Tapp adding, “He’s a smart safety in the second year of a very complicated system. He’s telling you he’s more equipped to handle it than he was a year ago and he’s at the stage of his career where he’s expected to hit his peak.”
As Tapp explained, “If he’s the guy who takes the biggest leap forward, you’ll have a great secondary.”
They’re not wrong. Improvements from Reid would give the Chiefs true game-changers at every level of the defense, making everyone’s job easier and putting more pressure on opposing offenses.
If Kansas City’s defense winds up ranked among the NFL’s best, Reid will be a big reason why. With the investment the Chiefs made in Reid last offseason, here’s hoping Cody and Gold hit the nail on the head.
You can find the audio from yesterday’s show on Audacy and the 610 Sports Radio podcast page.