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Re-sign or let walk: Making the call on 49ers’ free agents in 2018

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 17: Safety Eric Reid #35 of the San Francisco 49ers walks off the field after the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on September 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Seahawks beat the San Francisco 49ers 12-9. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 17: Safety Eric Reid #35 of the San Francisco 49ers walks off the field after the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on September 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Seahawks beat the San Francisco 49ers 12-9. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /

Safety Eric Reid

Like Tank Carradine, safety Eric Reid suffered a critical injury in the midst of what was likely going to be his best pro year.

Reid went down with a knee injury in Week 3 against the Seahawks after already displaying a natural fit at strong safety, primarily operating within the box in Robert Saleh’s Cover 3 scheme. As a result, Reid wasn’t able to return to action until Week 6, but that opened up the door for third-year pro Jaquiski Tartt to see an increase in playing time.

Tartt has thrived this season. And considering he’s the cheaper of the two options next year, it’s easy to see why the 49ers might be inclined to go younger here.

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Just check out the Pro Football Focus comparisons:

  • Jaquiski Tartt — 88.7 overall
  • Eric Reid — 70.2 overall

Letting Reid walk in free agency seems likely, although it does open up some problems. Reid is one of the few veteran leaders on the team and one of only a handful of remainders from San Francisco’s last playoff-push era.

That has value, even if the numbers don’t necessarily reflect it.

Still, the Niners haven’t held back from moving on from players holding over from the last few seasons, and Reid is looking more like an excess commodity than a must-have re-signee.

Next: 5 free agents the 49ers should target in 2018

Prediction: Let walk