With the Minnesota Vikings pressed up against the salary cap heading into next season, one common suggestion to remedy the situation is releasing Riley Reiff. As a 32-year-old due to make $13.95 million next season, Reiff is the football equivalent of Old Yeller. Despite coming off one of the best seasons of his career, the Vikings may not be able to find the cap room to keep him around.
But as easy as this decision seems, it will be more difficult than it looks because it will say more about Ezra Cleveland than it will about Reiff.
To say Cleveland’s rookie season didn’t go to plan is an understatement. As an offensive tackle drafted in the mold of Brian O’Neill, it was assumed that the Vikings second-round pick would be on course to take over for Reiff at left tackle. In fact, there was a chance they would flat-out release Reiff before the season, which would clear the runway for Cleveland to take off.
Instead of getting reps and learning behind Reiff at left tackle, the Vikings announced before training camp that Cleveland would be getting reps at guard. With Dakota Dozier, Pat Elflein and Dru Samia as his main competition, putting Cleveland at guard would be his fastest path to getting on the field — at least in 2021.
But the Vikings’ comments regarding Cleveland prior to the season painted a different story.
During the Vikings’ post-draft press conferences, Minnesota’s college scouting director Jamaal Stephenson noted that Cleveland had “guard flexibility.” That comment should have made Cleveland’s switch in 2020 a little less surprising, but Cleveland himself also hinted after making his NFL debut last October that it could be his long-term position.
“I’m not 100 percent sure,” Cleveland told Andrew Krammer of the Star Tribune when asked if he viewed himself as an NFL tackle. “I know that I like tackle and I like guard both the same. … Honestly, wherever the team needs me, I’ll play and try to do my best.”
Outside of a company line, doing his best is what Cleveland did at his new position last season. Cleveland graded 29th among qualifying guards per Pro Football Focus and was the third-highest graded lineman on the team behind Reiff and O’Neill.
While Cleveland wasn’t a dominant all-pro, he showed enough with his athleticism to suggest that a long-term move to guard could be in his future. His final month of the season showed some flaws in his game, including a lack of strength against bigger, powerful maulers such as Akiem Hicks, but Stephenson suggested that was to be expected.
“I think even Ezra would tell you he needs to get stronger,” Stephenson said. “I think that’s something really easy to work on.”
Put it all together and there’s a compelling argument to keep Cleveland at guard. He’s already received a full year of coaching and reps at the position and would give the Vikings one less spot to worry about heading into the offseason.
This puts the situation with Reiff front and center. If the Vikings were to keep Cleveland at guard, it could create a hole on the outside if they decide to let Reiff go.
This is an issue because Reiff was the best lineman on the team last season. His 16 pressures allowed were by far the least on the team, and while other pieces of the line faltered, Reiff was one of the more reliable constants on a unit that just wasn’t very good.
He had his share of bad games, including a Week 11 performance against the Dallas Cowboys where he allowed four pressures, but for the most part, he was a steady, consistent presence. If there’s one goal for the Vikings heading into the offseason, it should be finding more players who give them that type of effort rather than trying to construct “The Great Wall of Minnesota.”
Keeping Reiff may also be difficult, however, because of what’s gone on the past year. When the Vikings wanted to add Yannick Ngakoue, the team approached Reiff with the ultimatum of taking a pay cut or being released. It took several days, but Reiff made the decision to stay in Minnesota and rehab his value heading into 2021.
To make matters worse, the player that Reiff’s pay cut made room for lasted just six games before he was traded to the Baltimore Ravens. This meant Reiff took a pay cut for the Vikings to eat their losses and move down nearly a full round in next year’s NFL Draft.
Despite taking a dent in his bank account, Reiff’s gamble paid off as teams will look for a suitable option to protect the blindside. This is why left tackles routinely command contracts that flirt with $100 million and why Reiff got a 5-year, $58.75 million deal back in 2016. Coming to an agreement with the Vikings on a reduced deal is no longer the end of the world for him, and he could find the money he wants on the open market if the two sides are far apart.
The overall number that Reiff wants may be too rich for the Vikings at the moment, but coming to an agreement with him may be in the best interest of the team.
This becomes clear when you realize Minnesota’s options along the line if Reiff is let go. O’Neill has been a centerpiece of the offensive line since being drafted in 2018 but saw his pressures (28) increase and pass blocking grade (68.3) decrease in 2020 after his strong 2019 season (22 pressures, 70.2 pass-blocking grade). Moving him from the right to the left side of the line creates another hole and puts another player in a new position, which is part of the reason for the Vikings’ struggles.
Even if Cleveland were to assume the right or left tackle spot, he would have to learn that position at the NFL. This would essentially create a second rookie season for him and would make the case for the Vikings to invest the 14th overall pick in an offensive tackle. This would be a better move than shuffling everyone over with six offensive tackles rated in the top 32 of The Draft Network’s consensus big board.
This leaves Minnesota with a decision bigger than what to do with Reiff. If they believe that Cleveland can be a competent piece at right guard, it may be best to let his development continue there. If not, the wheels will be put into motion for another overhaul along the offensive line.
