The San Francisco 49ers selected LSU safety Eric Reid with the No. 18 overall pick in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. The Niners moved up from No. 31 to grab the LSU safety. Reid is rated as the No. 72 overall prospect and No. 5 safety in this year’s draft class by SB Nation’s Dan Kadar.
2013 NFL Draft results: Eric Reid selected by 49ers with 18th pick
Reid is headed to San Francisco with the build of a prototypical NFL safety, but he may need to rein in his aggressive nature to be his best.
And The Valley Shook on Eric Reid
Physically, Reid is the total package for what NFL teams look for in a safety. He has size, speed and explosive athleticism, and was a productive college player from the moment he hit Baton Rouge. But his junior season was a regression, as he played too much "hero ball." Reid was a first-team All-SEC performer as a junior before opting to forgo his senior season and declare for the NFL Draft. At 6’1, 213 pounds, Reid has the length to be a solid center fielder in the NFL. He is known as an aggressive, all-around defender, with great closing speed and strength to wrap up and take down YAC-minded running backs and wide receivers.
Reid’s great size can also be a bit of disadvantage, however. He does not possess great change-of-direction ability, making it difficult for him to recover from a mistake on the field. Reid has a tendency to get over-aggressive, which means he is out of position more often than coaches may like.
The 49ers are in need of a new safety after the team lost two-time Pro Bowl safety Dashon Goldson. Reid should be able to step in right away and take Goldson’s spot and help the Niners maintain their stout defense, which helped them reach the Super Bowl in 2012.
Combine results
Height: 6’1
Weight: 213 lbs.
Hand size: 10 inches
Arm length: 33 5/8 inches
40-yard dash: 4.53 seconds
Vertical jump: 40.5 inches
Broad jump: 134 inches
20-yard shuttle: 4.22 seconds
Bench press: 17 reps of 225 pounds
Reid had 91 tackles, two interceptions and seven pass breakups on his way to first-team All-SEC honors last season. He was named first-team All-American by coaches, and a second-teamer by the Associated Press. Reid earned second-team All-SEC honors as a sophomore with 76 tackles, two interceptions, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles.
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