Last year the Cincinnati Bengals drafted quarterback Joe Burrow with the first-overall selection. While the rookie passer showed promise, his season ended early with an ACL injury. That has led for calls in Cincinnati for the Bengals to do a much better job protecting their quarterback next season.
The organization took a step towards achieving that goal today, signing veteran tackle Riley Reiff to a contract in free agency.
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network was one of the first to report the deal:
One of the most important moves in free agency for Cincy: Improve the protection for QB Joe Burrow. A veteran starting LT does that. The #Vikings loved Riley Reiff, on the field and in the locker room. Now, he lands with the #Bengals. https://t.co/SoSBjW6twF
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 19, 2021
The Bengals made a big pitch towards the veteran tackle, with Reiff meeting with the organization and having dinner with a number of players, including the rising-second year quarterback:
https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer/status/1372910413789151232?s=20
New Bengals CB Mike Hilton on recruiting Riley Reiff last night at dinner: We were definitely pushing him to get him to sign
— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) March 19, 2021
Reiff is a solid tackle who has posted some good seasons during his time in the league. He was drafted in the first round of the 2012 draft by the Detroit Lions, and was a rotational player his rookie season — including seeing some time as a blocking tight end — before earning the starting left tackle spot for the 2013 campaign. At the end of his rookie deal he signed a new contract with the Minnesota Vikings, and spent the past four seasons as their starting left tackle. Last year was perhaps his best as a professional, as he allowed just a single sack according to charting data from Pro Football Focus, his lowest number in a season.
While this is a very good move for the Bengals and addresses a position of need, there is one more thing to consider:
Zac Taylor confirms he has his starting tackles for '21. Jonah Williams at left tackle, Riley Reiff at right tackle. "Both of those guys are going to have great futures for us at those positions."
— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) March 19, 2021
Conventional wisdom holds that the Bengals will address offensive line with the fifth-overall selection, whether Penei Sewell or Rashawn Slater. This move, and the comment from Zac Taylor, could potentially indicate that the organization is going to move in a different direction. I still contend that the Bengals would be wise to use additional draft capital on the offensive line, but with this move and the discussion of Jonah Williams, the team might be thinking instead about adding a weapon around Burrow. Could that work? Sure. I mean Kyle Pitts would be a welcome addition to that offense, as would a player like DeVonta Smith or Ja’Marr Chase.
Maybe this move is a sign that the Bengals will indeed go in that different direction, which could really inject some talent into that offensive huddle.