Riley Reiff will be heading to a fourth team in four seasons. The veteran tackle is expected to sign with the Patriots, Dianna Russini of ESPN.com tweets.
The 11-year veteran has been with the Vikings, Bengals and Bears since 2020. He will join a Patriots team that has already agreed to terms with ex-Broncos spot starter/swingman Calvin Anderson. Reiff spent last season as Bears part-time starter; the Patriots may give him a chance to earn the right tackle gig opposite Trent Brown.
Connected to a pursuit of a right tackle on this year’s market, the Pats stood down and let the likes of Mike McGlinchey (Broncos), Jawaan Taylor (Chiefs) and Kaleb McGary (Falcons) agree to terms elsewhere. Reiff and Anderson would not exactly present a desired right tackle competition, at least not at this point in Reiff’s career, and the Patriots do not have an expensive contract elsewhere on their front. For now, however, Reiff is the most proven option for the team on the right side.
Reiff’s experience aside, he turned 34 in December and did not begin last season as a starter for a 3-14 Bears team. The NFC North nomad did, however, move into Chicago’s starting lineup. The ex-Lions first-rounder made 10 starts for the Bears last season, supplanting Larry Borom in the rebuilding team’s lineup. Pro Football Focus ranked Borom and Reiff as its Nos. 50 and 51 tackles last season. Reiff (149 career starts) bounced back from an injury-abbreviated Bengals season, playing 16 Bears games in 2022.
The Pats are satisfied with their interior O-line trio (David Andrews, Cole Strange, Michael Onwenu) and may be leaning toward bringing Brown back at left tackle. They benched former blindsider-turned-right tackle Isaiah Wynn last season, before an injury knocked the ex-first-rounder out for the year. Wynn is almost certain to depart. Reiff and Anderson, a former Pats UDFA, as of now represent his successor options.
What did the Patriots pay for Reiff? Without the salary figure, we don’t know if this was a good or bad signing. At a low annual salary, as a swing tackle/backup, it’s a good signing. As an expensive starter, it’s a disaster.
Belichick must be thinking draft to pick up another starter level tackle.
Lol,what do you think? Kraft isn’t signing a big contract for a journeyman.