Free-agent safety Ed Reed has informed the Houston Texans that he will sign with them, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Reed, who has spent his entire career with the Baltimore Ravens, visited the Texans last week but left last Friday without a deal.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh indicated in a text message to NFL.com that Reed’s decorated stint in Baltimore is over, saying, “Ed is a great friend and player. I will always appreciate our time together …”
According to reports, the Texans offered Reed a three-year deal in the salary range of $4 million annually, though Reed has been seeking a salary similar to the $7.2 million he earned last season.
The Ravens, who have seen significant turnover since winning the franchise’s second Super Bowl, appeared interested in retaining the nine-time Pro Bowler.
“On the hopeful scale I’d say it’s of high hope,” Harbaugh said at the NFL owners meetings Tuesday. “It’s high on the measuring stick. We’ll just have to see how it works out.”
Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith took to Twitter in reaction to Reed’s departure, stating that Baltimore would be different without Reed and longtime linebacker Ray Lewis.
“No Reed or Ray in Baltimore????? This season is gonna be weird,” Smith tweeted.
Reed, 34, is the Ravens’ franchise leader in interceptions with 61, and his 1,541 return yards with those pickoffs is an NFL career record. He was the NFL’s top defensive player in 2004.
With Reed possibly on the move, Baltimore has also scheduled a visit with Raiders free-agent safety Michael Huff, a league sourced told Schefter.
ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
This article was originally posted on ESPN.com