With free agency beginning at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Ed Reed is getting prepared. After always having represented himself in his career, Reed hired an agent to handle the free agency process. The Baltimore Ravens are letting the safety explore the market and plenty of teams are calling. The San Francisco 49ers are looking to improve their defense. After reportedly being in the mix for cornerback Darrelle Revis, they are now setting their sights on Reed.
If a deal were to happen, this would be the second player this week that the Ravens have let go to San Francisco. Wide receiver Anquan Boldin was traded to the team on Monday. Boldin and Reed are good friends and Reed could be looking to follow his old teammate out west. Reed was the 2011 Defensive Player of the Year and the NFL leader in interceptions the last three years. He would be a definite upgrade for the 49ers that could be losing Dashon Goldson.
Reed has a significant connection with the 49ers. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is a former Baltimore assistant. Reed is familiar with his defensive schemes and could really benefit from returning to a Fangio defensive unit.
It seems unlikely that Baltimore would let Reed leave. With Ray Lewis retiring, Reed is the veteran presence that the Ravens need next year. He has championship experience and played a large part in their Super Bowl winning season. General manager Ozzie Newsome expressed confidence in the team's ability to hold on to Reed, something Reed himself has said he would like.
"I'm a Raven, I plan on being a Raven. I couldn't see me anywhere else right now. If it happens, I'm a football player. I can adapt to any situation," Reed said to the NFL Network.
However, with Reed hiring an agent to represent him, it could only be a matter of time before he leaves Baltimore. Reed has traditionally handled his contract negotiations himself, but with multiple teams expressing interest, an agent is better suited to handle getting a deal done. The Ravens once allowed Lewis to leave and test out free agency before he ultimately returned and signed a new deal with Baltimore. There is no saying that Reed is a lock to leave the Ravens, but that does not mean he is a lock to stay either.
