If Riley Reiff wants to stick around Minnesota, it sounds like he’ll have to take a pay cut. Chris Tomasson of TwinCities.com writes that the Vikings lineman “likely would need to take a pay cut for the second straight year to remain with the team.” In a separate tweet, Tomasson notes that the organization is “hoping to restructure” the veteran’s contract.
The Vikings left tackle is set to have a salary cap number of $14.95MM in 2021, and Tomasson believes some decision will be made before he’s owed a guaranteed $5MM roster bonus on March 19. If the organization decides to release him prior to that date, they can save a total of $11.75MM between his roster bonus, workout bonus, and $6.55MM base salary. On the books, they’d be left with just $2.2MM in dead money, the sum of his prorated bonus.
The 2012 first-round pick out of Iowa spent the first five seasons of his career with the Lions. He joined the Vikings on a massive five-year, $58.75MM deal prior to the 2017 season, and he’s been a consistent presence on the offensive line over the past four seasons. He’s missed six total regular season games over that span, and he would have appeared in 100-percent of his team’s offensive snaps in 2020 if not for a stint on the COVID-19 list to end the 2020 campaign.
If the Vikings were to move on from Reiff, they’d have some options to replace him. As Tomasson writes, right guard Ezra Cleveland played left tackle during his time at Boise State, or the team could look to move right tackle Brian O’Neill. With the latter, the front office will have to be wary of an impending extension, as a move to left tackle could boost O’Neill’s earnings.
0 all pros or pro bowl seasons in 9 years….not sure he’s worth 15mm a season to be average.
Some decent tackles in this draft as well, some will still be around rounds 3-4.
Though true, he’s still their best OL.
Which is truly sad…
Ever since my Lions drafted him I thought he should be a guard with those short arms /shrug
This seemed to be the most obvious cut of the offseason for the Vikings in my opinion. They need a lot right now and that number is the easiest to shed. Sucks because we need O Line starters and depth but nature of the game right now..
Too bad for the Vikings Bill O boob isn’t still around. He would fetch at least 2 Houston first rounders.
No matter where he ends up I will always remember Paul Allen (The voice of the Vikings, not the one from the rainy city butch pigeons) voicing his absolute disgust at Reiff with one of the greatest quips of all time. “Good grief Riley Reiff”.
It would actually be a major news story if the Vikings didn’t want someone to take a pay cut. This has become an offseason tradition for the organization.
You mean, like the other 31 NFL teams?
Turn him Loose.
Either draft the best OG available and move Cleveland to LT or draft the best LT available at #14.
Agreed!! Since the early 2000’s I have wanted the Vikings to use every draft pick on the OL, because, well, there OLine hasn’t been good forever.
I keep seeing mock drafts having the Vikings select a DL in the 1st and I scream NOOOO – Danielle Hunter and Pierce both did not play a single down in 2020 and both are supposedly back for 2021. Those are two big adds without drafting anyone.
I’m not saying they should NOT draft a DLineman, but I don’t believe in the 1st round – bigger needs on the OL.
I’m not saying Cousins is the greatest QB, but I wonder what would happen if he had 1-2 more seconds to throw vs what he had in 2020.
Agreed!! Since the early 2000’s I have wanted the Vikings to use every draft pick in a single year on the OL, because, well, there O Line hasn’t been good forever.
I keep seeing mock drafts having the Vikings select a DL in the 1st and I scream NOOOO – Danielle Hunter and Pierce both did not play a single down in 2020 and both are supposedly back for 2021. Those are two big adds without drafting anyone.
I’m not saying they should NOT draft a D Lineman, but I don’t believe in the 1st round – bigger needs on the OL.
I’m not saying Cousins is the greatest QB, but I wonder what would happen if he had 1-2 more seconds to throw vs what he had in 2020.
Holy schitts draft Kyle Pitts?