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Why Eric Reid might be playing last game with the 49ers in Week 8

By Peter Panacy

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) /
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Veteran safety Eric Reid could be playing his last game with the San Francisco 49ers, as they visit the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 8. Here’s why he might be out afterwards.

It’s highly unlikely the San Francisco 49ers re-sign veteran safety Eric Reid after 2017.

Reid, a pending free agent, could also be playing his final game with the Niners this Sunday, as the team travels to Philadelphia to take on the 6-1 Eagles.

It’s easy to see the writing on the wall here. The winless 49ers have already decided to commit to younger players, as general manager John Lynch and Co. have chosen to go with youth over established veteran talent.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Case in point, the team moved on from four-time All-Pro linebacker NaVorro Bowman to give rookie linebacker Reuben Foster an increased role. While not as glaring a headline, Reid lost his starting strong safety job to Jaquiski Tartt after Reid suffered a knee injury in Week 2 versus the Seattle Seahawks.

In an effort to get the best 11 players on the field, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh elected to shift Reid down to linebacker — a position of shortage for San Francisco and an attempt to at least get Reid on the field more often.

But as Niners Nation’s Jennifer Lee Chan described, Reid didn’t exactly seem pleased with the idea.

She wrote:

"After the game, Reid, who has already worked very hard to adjust to playing strong safety, was gracious about his new position. Still, you could sense a lack of enthusiasm in his responses. He is in a contract year and has been doing everything possible to be a team player, yet this latest move makes his tenure with team look like it’s coming to an end."

Eric Reid a 49ers Trade Commodity?

The NFL trade deadline is at 4 p.m. ET on Oct. 31. Reid, 25 years old, was one of the players we looked at as a possible trade candidate.

Related Story: 5 players the 49ers could move at the NFL trade deadline

Since he’s in the final year of his contract, though, other teams may not be as interested. If anything, the move would be a rental — something rare in the NFL, unlike other sports, given the reluctance to surrender draft capital in exchange for such a short-term player.

Still, Reid could make sense for a number of other teams. He has experience at both strong and free safety positions, and there are a few teams in need of an upgrade.

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The Kansas City Chiefs, thick in the playoff hunt, might be one possibility. Especially after losing All-Pro safety Eric Berry to a season-ending Achilles injury last September.

Regardless of the destination, the move makes sense for the 49ers as well. Lynch has already demonstrated the willingness to move a veteran player disgruntled over a role change. If this is the case with Reid, why should we expect any different?

At any rate, it doesn’t seem likely at all the Niners keep Reid around in 2018. And with San Francisco in all-out rebuild mode, the team needs as much investment capital it can gain. If trading Reid nets even the lowest of draft picks, that’s stock Lynch and the 49ers could desperately use.

Next: 5 potential trade suitors for safety Eric Reid

With the deadline looming, Sunday’s contest versus the Eagles might be the last we see the veteran safety in a Niners uniform.