SANTA CLARA – When it was noted that 49ers general manager Trent Baalke has expressed a desire to sign him to a multi-year contract extension, safety Eric Reid left little doubt he wants the same thing.
“I hope so,” Reid said on Wednesday.
The 49ers last month picked up Reid's fifth-year option for the 2017 season. The scheduled $5.676 million salary does not become guaranteed until the first day of the 2017 league year in March.
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Reid said it is reasonable for the 49ers to want to see more from him in 2016 before they sit down to negotiate an extension beyond the 2017 season.
“That’s business, isn’t it?” Reid said. “You look at any form of business, not just football. They want to see production. I haven’t had that conversation with them, but it’s obvious to me that they want to see something. That’s in all businesses.”
Reid recorded seven interceptions in his first two NFL seasons and was chosen as a Pro Bowl alternate after being the 49ers’ first-round draft pick in 2013. But Reid did not have an interception last year.
While the 49ers are in their second week of organized team activities, Reid is learning his third defense in three years. And he said defensive coordinator Jim O’Neil’s scheme might be his favorite thus far. Reid spent his first two seasons in Vic Fangio's scheme before learning Eric Mangini's system last year.
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“I think I like this one the best. It just makes sense,” Reid said. “You line up and you get a call, I know exactly what I’m doing and I know exactly what the guy next to me is doing. And when you feel that way, you can feel confident when you break on a ball.”
Reid said he believes there will be less indecision this season because of a scheme that has firm rules. A year ago, frequent miscommunications from Mangini’s system were mostly responsible for the team’s defense sinking to No. 29 overall. The 49ers were also among the worst in the league in generating just nine interceptions and three fumble recoveries.
“There were a lot of times when there was a gray area – too much gray area,” Reid said. “I’m wondering what this guy is going to do, so I’m watching him instead of watching the offense because I don’t know what the guy in front of me is going to do."