Los Angeles Rams free agency 2018: Top 5 targets

2. Eric Reid, Safety

Even if the Rams decide to franchise tag Lamarcus Joyner, they do need a partner in crime to put on the back end of the defense. Joyner is a very good safety and Los Angeles would do well to find a way to keep him. Eric Reid would not only help the Rams move forward, but it would hurt a division rival in the process. Reid has played his entire career in San Francisco to this point. His free agency case will be very interesting to see play out.

Reid was one of the prominent players to take a knee during the National Anthem alongside ex-teammate Colin Kaepernick. There most likely are teams that have already crossed him off the list due to his kneeling. Some just don’t want to have to deal with the extra attention that comes with it. Reid believes his stance may wind up costing him this off-season, via CBS Sports-

"“I wouldn’t use the word concerned,” Reid said. “I would say I understand that’s a possibility. And I’m completely fine with it. The things that I’ve done, I stand by, and I’ve done that for my own personal beliefs. Like I said, I’m fine with whatever outcome happens because of that.”"

Putting aside the possibility that some teams may not want to speak with him, his play on the field is more than enough to warrant a job. Reid actually rotated into the linebacker spot this past season but did not fare all that well. There’s no reason to put him as a linebacker if his skill set is only as a safety. With the tutelage of Wade Phillips, Reid could almost turn into a poor man’s version of Malcolm Jenkins from the Philadelphia Eagles.

The duo of Reid and Joyner alongside of Marcus Peters would be a great foundation to any secondary. Los Angeles finished right about the middle of the pack last year in pass yards given up per game. It would be a great call to make sure that figure doesn’t go backwards in 2018.