Minnesota will not lose starting left tackle Riley Reiff, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, who reports that the Vikings and Reiff have agreed to a restructured contract that will keep him from being released by the team.
The #Vikings are finalizing a restructured contract with left tackle Riley Reiff, sources tell me and @RapSheet. One day after Reiff was offered a pay cut and said goodbye to teammates, he’s back and the O-line stays intact.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 1, 2020
“Per source, Reiff has told teammates he expects to be cut,” said Mike Florio, via his Pro Football Talk Twitter account on Tuesday. That has not happened, and it appears the deal has been agreed upon prior to what ESPN’s Courtney Cronin said could be a Tuesday deadline for Reiff to make a decision.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said that Reiff had a “teary goodbye” with fellow offensive linemen. Rapoport also said that Reiff’s agent was contacting teams around the league to see if there was a way to work out a trade.
From Inside Training Camp Live: The #Vikings want LT Riley Reiff to take a paycut, and his agent has asked around about a potential trade. An answer on what's next comes today. pic.twitter.com/SVF419WsKE
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 1, 2020
Had Reiff been cut, it likely would’ve forced starting right tackle Brian O’Neill to slide over to the left side, with his right tackle starting spot potentially going to veteran backup Rashod Hill.
“We have a lot of confidence in Rashod,” Zimmer said Tuesday. “He’s played well when he’s been in there.”
Reiff is due to make $10.9 million this season. Cutting him would’ve saved the Vikings around $8.8 million cap space, according to The Athletic’s Chad Graff.
The money saved in Reiff’s restructured deal should help the Vikings afford Yannick Ngakoue, the Pro Bowl defensive end the Vikings got in a trade with Jacksonville on Sunday.
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