Former Lions first-round pick Riley Reiff meeting with Jets Thursday

Former Lions offensive tackle Riley Reiff is still available now getting deeper into June, but Thursday’s meeting with Jets may be a sign of his market picking up.

Rooted in missing the Cincinnati Bengals’ run to the Super Bowl with an ankle injury, free agent offensive tackle Riley Reiff remains available into June. But according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the former Detroit Lions’ first-round pick is meeting with the New York Jets on Thursday.

The Lions took Reiff No. 23 overall in the 2012 draft out of the University of Iowa. He spent his first five NFL season in Detroit, starting 69 of the 77 games he played (55 at left tackle until his last season in 2016). He moved on to the Minnesota Vikings with a nice free agent deal, then started all 58 games he played at left tackle for them from 2017-2020. He started 12 games at right tackle for Cincinnati last season before his aforementioned injury.

Riley Reiff is one of most notable free agents still available

In late-May, Reiff made CBS Sports’ top-10 list of remaining NFL free agents.

"After spending four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, Reiff inked a one-year deal to join the Bengals last offseason. He started all 12 games for Cincinnati at right tackle last season before being placed on injured reserve in mid-December and missed the club’s run to Super Bowl LVI. According to Pro Football Focus, Reiff had a 96.8 pass blocking efficiency rating, allowing 21 total pressures and four sacks."

Reiff is not a star. He’s just been a solid, above-average tackle, at both spots depending on the year and team he has been on, throughout his thus far 10-year career. Since his rookie season with the Lions in 2012, he has started at least 12 games every year.

Reiff could start for plenty of NFL teams at either tackle spot, and that might be what’s held up him signing. But even seen as a depth piece with versatility, only the health of his ankle should be holding back a solid market for his services. The Jets would do well to get him signed.