Perhaps one of the few mistakes the Kansas City Chiefs have made this offseason is parting ways with star safety Justin Reid. An incredibly important contributor to the KC defense walked away to join the dumpster fire that is the New Orleans Saints roster.
Early camp has highlighted the loss of why the Saints are lauding the addition of the star safety. In fairness, it is easy to praise Reid, who stands out with a group devoid of talent. Still, there is no denying that the safety will be missed and is going to be incredibly difficult to replace.
One could argue with how well the Philadelphia Eagles' passing attack performed in the Super Bowl, a huge contract wasn't earned. However, looking at the replacement options the franchise has brought in, there is no question that the loss will be felt. This doesn't mean the Chiefs will in any way regress, but rather that not having the consistent presence of the star safety is going to be obvious. For Reid, it is a clear choice to decide to be paid over winning. This isn't a negative thing, but it isn't exactly a secret that New Orleans will be among the league's worst teams.
The Chiefs Already Feel the Loss of Justin Reid
One potential depth option for the Chiefs to explore is signing free agent Justin Simmons. The veteran has long haunted Mahomes, picking off the quarterback a frustrating number of times. Included in this is last season when Simmons left Denver to join the Atlanta Falcons. Still, the safety haunted Mahomes in the lone matchup against the Falcons, picking Mahomes off on a key drive. While the Chiefs still won, the frustration remained.
Even Simmons isn't replacing Reid; the veteran safety isn't the force he was in Denver and would have limited upside. Still, it is a worthwhile depth move as the level of concern grows. Kansas City made a mistake letting Reid walk away and should've replaced the veteran with someone with higher upside or opted to pay what it took to keep the safety in Kansas City. Regardless, it is a solid decision for Reid, who used an impressive run with the Chiefs to secure a payday.
One that is going to age poorly, not due to Reid's potential, but because of where New Orleans is heading. The retirement of Derek Carr cemented the franchise as a bottom-feeder in an underwhelming division. Not a team that should've stolen a key piece from the Kansas City dynasty.