BREAKING: Chiefs Projected to Lose 7-Year Starter to Chargers

Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid has been a fixture in the secondary for the past three seasons, but he could leave for a division rival in 2025.

Selected in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft, the Stanford product originally made a name for himself with the Houston Texans.

Starting all four years on his rookie contract, Reid never made a Pro Bowl but proved to be one of the league’s more reliable safeties, capable of making plays against the run and the pass.

He joined the Chiefs in 2022 and played a key role in helping Kansas City win their two most recent Super Bowl titles.

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However, the 2024 season could be the end of the road for the veteran safety. According to an article by the Bleacher Report scouting department, the Los Angeles Chargers could target Justin Reid in free agency and steal him from the rival Chiefs.

Chargers Could Steal Justin Reid From Chiefs

Bleacher Report notes that not everyone has improved under first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.

While the former Wolverine and 49ers head coach has done a remarkable job of turning the team around, some players were better fits for former head coach Brandon Staley, with the most obvious example being safety Alohi Gilman.

As one of the few bright spots of the 2023 Chargers, the former sixth-round pick broke out and finished the season with an 86.1 PFF grade, the seventh-best mark in the league.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t recapture this form, as he currently ranks 81st out of 91 eligible safeties in PFF grade.

While Los Angeles has one of the league’s better defenses, Bleacher Report notes “Minter’s defense has been at its best with three safeties on the field, so Derwin James can be free to make plays.” 
Assuming the defensive coordinator doesn’t leave for a head coaching job, finding a reliable third safety should be one of their top priorities. However, will the Chargers be able to steal a reliable starter like Justin Reid from a division rival like the Chiefs?

The Money

It’s impossible to know what Justin Reid will get on the open market, but he probably won’t break the bank for the Chiefs or Chargers. The veteran signed a three-year, $31.5 million deal with Kansas City in 2022 and should receive a similar per-year deal in 2025.

Now playing in his age-28 season, Reid is closer to the end of his career than the beginning but should still have a few years of good play left in his tank.

Quite frankly, it’s hard to envision a world where the Kansas City Chiefs are the highest bidders in the Justin Reid sweepstakes. As of this posting, the team is projected to have just $21.8 million in 2025 salary cap space, while the Chargers are up at $76.1 million.

This doesn’t account for the other free agents the Chiefs need to re-sign, as big names like Trey Smith, Nick Bolton, and DeAndre Hopkins are also set to reach free agency.

Reid won’t get a record-setting contract, but the Chiefs must pinch pennies just to retain their more important players. Reid will probably have a new home next year, and the Chargers seem like the perfect fit.