BALTIMORE (WJZ) — The Ravens post-Super Bowl purge will continue with the loss of veteran safety Ed Reed. CBS Sports’ Jason LaConfora was first to report that Reed agreed in principle to a two-year contract with the Houston Texans Wednesday evening and will leave the Ravens as a free agent after 11 seasons in Baltimore. Reed will reportedly receive $4 million per season in a two-year contract.

Mark Viviano has more.

Reed was a first round draft pick of the Ravens out of the University of Miami in 2002. His 11 seasons with the Ravens included Reed being voted the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2004. His departure will make him the ninth player to leave the Ravens since they defeated the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl. Most of the departures have been from the defense as Ray Lewis is gone via retirement; Paul Kruger, Dannell Ellerbe, Cary Williams and Reed all leave via free agency.

Reed made a free agent visit to Houston last week. He told reporters during the visit that he considered the Texans a first-class organization and that a move to Houston would be welcomed by his family in his hometown of New Orleans.

“It’s the nature of the league. It’s the unfortunate part of the salary cap,” said Coach John Harbaugh. “It’s been tough.”

While the Ravens have lost more players than any Super Bowl champion in history, they have signed free agent defensive linemen Chris Canty and Marcus Spears. A possible replacement for the loss of Reed is free agent safety Michael Huff who was recently cut by the Oakland Raiders and will reportedly meet with the Ravens in the near future.