Jets Country

Should the Jets Sign OT Riley Reiff?

Reiff visited with the Jets on Thursday.

Max Goodman

In this story:

Veteran offensive tackle and former first-round pick Riley Reiff visited with the Jets on Thursday, an option for New York if they want to bolster their depth on the offensive line in free agency.

ESPN's Adam Schefter was first to report the news that Reiff was headed for a visit with Gang Green. Then, reporters like Connor Hughes of The Athletic snapped pictures of Reiff at the Jets' facility, meeting with general manager Joe Douglas. 

Reiff, 33, is entering his 11th season in the NFL. He was drafted 23rd overall by the Lions back in 2012 out of Iowa, playing for Detroit over his first five years in the league. After spending the next four seasons with the Vikings, Reiff played for the Bengals a year ago, appearing in 12 games.

The perks of bringing in a player like Reiff are pretty clear. After Mekhi Becton and George Fant, the Jets don't have too much experience or depth at the tackle position. 

Similar to the presence Morgan Moses provided when he was brought in last offseason, Reiff can give the Jets a bit of a security blanket, a swing tackle capable of filling in if (or when) someone gets injured. 

Reiff has been consistent in his playing time and durability over the years, appearing in 12-plus games in each season across his decade-long career. Further, even in his age-33 season in 2021, Reiff received a 67.3 PFF grade. 

Sure, there's a chance Reiff isn't needed if Becton and Fant can stay healthy. That would've been the case for Moses last year, but Becton went down with what turned out to be a season-ending knee injury in Week 1. There are still well-documented concerns about Becton's ability to stay on the field and whether he can reach his lofty expectations. 

If the price is right, and Reiff is on board with what the Jets are building, it feels like this could be a good match for both sides. Reiff can help serve as another mentor for the younger players on New York's offensive line as well—as a former first-rounder, he has something in common with both Becton and Alijah Vera-Tucker.

MORE:

Follow Max Goodman on Twitter (@MaxTGoodman), be sure to bookmark Jets Country and check back daily for news, analysis and more.

Published
Max Goodman
MAX GOODMAN

Max Goodman covers the New York Jets for Sports Illustrated and FanNation. He also covers the New York Yankees, publisher  of Sports Illustrated and FanNation's Yankees site, Inside The Pinstripes. Before starting out with SI, Goodman attended Northwestern University and the Medill School of Journalism. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism and Master’s Degree in Sports Media, graduating in 2019. While at school, Goodman gathered valuable experience as an anchor and reporter on NNN SportsNight and played on the club baseball team. Goodman previously interned at MLB.com as an associate reporter covering the Miami Marlins. He also interned with ESPN, working as an associate reporter on Mike Greenberg's Get Up. Goodman is from New York City. He grew up in Hell's Kitchen. Follow Goodman on Twitter @MaxTGoodman and connect with him via email by reaching out at maxgoodmansports@gmail.com.

Home/News