The Chicago Bears boosted their offensive line heading into training camp with the addition of veteran offensive tackle Riley Reiff.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, it’s a one-year deal worth up to $12.5 million with the expected value expected to be $10 million.
Reiff has been solid at left tackle during his decade-long career, which includes a most recent stop with the Cincinnati Bengals. Reiff started 12 games for Cincinnati before landing on injured reserve with an ankle injury in December.
When looking at the state of Chicago’s offensive line, Reiff projects to be their starting left tackle in 2022. Although he can play both left and right tackle, giving him some versatility.
As you can expect, there was plenty of reaction to the Reiff signing. Whether it’s optimism about getting an experienced starting tackle or criticism about the Bears overspending.
Here’s how Twitter is reacting to the Reiff move:
This is a good move. Reiff can start at either OT spot. Nothing flashy but the #Bears were looking at a potentially disastrous OT situation. OL looks much better heading into camp https://t.co/bjYVx1meTu
— Andrew Freeman (@AjFreeman25) July 26, 2022
Poles showcasing his brilliance by paying 8 figures to an old LT coming off a season where he was banged up.
…The North is his forever. https://t.co/R3kyGTmAGw
— Ryan Donaldson (@RADonaldson) July 26, 2022
Oooooooooo
Is this good or bad for Jenkins?…..no I’m not question Borom at all. I have full confidence in that young man. https://t.co/J8aummFvvy— RockyBear 54 (@RockyBear5154) July 26, 2022
Any time you can get a piece of the Bengals 2021 Super Bowl O Line, you jump on that opportunity.
Good move for da 🐻s https://t.co/AdanTdnVfO
— Dr. Opinion Bear (@OpinionBear) July 26, 2022
Been saying for a while now “They’re not done yet. There will be more signings all the way through camp cuts.”
Very possible Poles just added 2/5th’s of the starting O-line over the last few days… in late July. https://t.co/v1EHzL5Ntv
— EJ Snyder (@thedraftsmanFB) July 26, 2022
Based on phrasing, don’t think $10M is the true base value. Probably closer to $8-$9M with some very easy to earn money to get to $10M.
Reiff signed a 1/$7.5M deal with the Bengals last season. Earned a 67.3 grade with 711 snaps at right tackle, where he hadn’t played since 2016 https://t.co/9A0xjXEkQG
— Brad Spielberger, Esq. (@PFF_Brad) July 26, 2022
Sometimes patience pays off. We’re old to remember when we all worried about not adding to the offensive line https://t.co/OdbIw1p2aV
— Monsters Of The Midwest (@MonstersOfMw) July 26, 2022
The #Bears have already made two legitimate additions to their offensive line this week. Both were ~ league average last year.
PFF Grades
Riley Reiff: 49th/83 OT’s last year
Michael Schofield: 39th/82 OG’s last year https://t.co/pD28aQAB0U
— Connor Allen (@ConnorAllenNFL) July 26, 2022
There we go!
Reiff may not be the best OT in the league, but I’ve always known him to be “solid, if unspectacular”. This buoys the #Bears’ young OTs well — if someone like Borom, Jones, or Jenkins unseats Reiff, that’s great news!
Two solid signings in a week 👌 https://t.co/oAr96j86HN
— Robert Schmitz (@robertkschmitz) July 26, 2022
Every comment is about how this is overpaying him but… I couldn’t care less. It’s a one-year deal, it’s late July, who else are we using that cap money on? Just found a way to bring in two new week 1 starters on the OL before training camp, both on one year deals.#DaBears https://t.co/KgHX5o9LUY
— Jim Hanson (@NavyOrangeJim) July 26, 2022
Wow, massive addition in Chicago. Guessing this is your starting left tackle right here…
Bears may have added their starting LT and RG in July, but at least they’re there. Big time deal for Reiff, who is apparently one of the most respected vets in any locker room https://t.co/9A0xjXEkQG
— Brad Spielberger, Esq. (@PFF_Brad) July 26, 2022
#Twitter #reacts #Bears #signing #Riley #Reiff