The offensive line in front of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow just got so much better.
Cincinnati agreed to terms with offensive tackle Riley Reiff on Friday morning, securing the best remaining lineman on the market to slap down as one of the starting five in front of Burrow.
Reiff, 32, has never missed more than three games in a season and has been solid throughout the course of his career since joining the NFL via the first round in 2012.
Last year, Reiff posted a strong 71.4 Pro Football Focus grade with just one sack allowed over 1,003 snaps. The Vikings, after a disappointing season, were looking for cap relief and made him a cut.
While there’s always a chance Reiff starts to regress dramatically from here, one has to think contract structure keeps that in mind. And he’s still far, far better than anything the Bengals have on the roster right now not named Jonah Williams.
Flexibility is the name of the game too. Reiff has spent most of his career at left tackle. But him kicking down to guard next to Jonah Williams isn’t the worst idea on the planet. Neither is his moving over the right side of the line, making Bobby Hart a cap casualty. The Bengals seem resistant to the idea, but the team could also move Williams to right tackle and let Reiff remain on the left side.
Is there a wrong answer? Probably not, which is part of the high grade for this signing. It also adds flexibility to the draft. Penei Sewell is still possible at five. He could play guard or tackle right away. Ditto for another lineman after a trade down. It could also mean opting for a wideout like Ja’Marr Chase or a tight end like Kyle Pitts.
All of this is to say Reiff is probably the best signing by the Bengals in free agency. Corner Mike Hilton comes close, but he — like the others — was merely swapping out a loss for somebody new that hopefully fits better.
Reiff is a sheer, unabashed upgrade that protects the most important player in Cincinnati and affords the front office endless flexibility in how to go about the rest of the offseason.
Grade: A+
