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Riley Reiff | Tackle

Team: Detroit Lions
Age / DOB:  (24) / 12/1/1988
Ht / Wt:  6'6' / 313
College: Iowa
Contract: view contract details
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Latest News

Recent News

Riley Reiff will be the Lions' left tackle this season.
The Lions had strongly considered Reiff at right guard, but the draft brought some clarity to the unit. They missed out on all three of the top tackle prospects (Eric Fisher, Luke Joeckel, Lane Johnson), so they'll roll with Reiff on Matthew Stafford's blind side. Due to short arms, it's a concern. The Lions' offensive line now looks like this: LT Reiff, LG Rob Sims, C Dominic Raiola, RG Larry Warford and RT Jason Fox. Apr 30 - 12:14 PM
Source: Detroit Free Press

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Player News

Date:
Riley Reiff - T - Lions

According to the Detroit Free Press, the Lions ideally would like to play Riley Reiff at right guard.

Reiff was drafted in the first round last season as a tackle. But with short arms and mediocre athletic ability, he may be best suited to play inside. If the Lions use the No. 5 overall pick in next week's draft on a tackle, they could roll with a rookie and Jason Fox as the bookends on their offensive line.
Source: Detroit Free Press
Apr 18 - 10:35 AM
Riley Reiff - T - Lions

Lions GM Martin Mayhew is leaving the door open for 2012 first-round pick Riley Reiff to be the team's Opening Day left tackle.

The Lions have a glaring hole after Jeff Backus' retirement and failed to secure any of free agency's premier left tackles. Central Michigan's Eric Fisher could be on Detroit's radar with the fifth overall draft pick. Reiff was considered more of a right tackle or guard prospect coming out of Iowa last year, due to short arms. He'd have to win with technique on Matthew Stafford's blindside.
Source: Dave Birkett on Twitter
Mar 18 - 3:37 PM
Riley Reiff - T - Lions

According to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, the Lions are "strongly" considering moving OT Riley Reiff to guard.

The Lions' website previously reported a position switch was possible, but this suggests Reiff won't be a serious candidate for Detroit's expected vacancy at right tackle. It's surprising the Lions might throw in the towel on Reiff as a tackle less than a year after taking him at No. 23, but his short arms and average athleticism made it a possibility from the start. GM Martin Mayhew is probably wishing he could have a redo on last year's first round.
Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter
Mar 5 - 2:56 PM
Riley Reiff - T - Lions

The Lions' website confirms that Riley Reiff is expected to start at either tackle or guard next season.

With Gosder Cherilus an unrestricted free agent and Jeff Backus unsure if he'll be back in 2013, Reiff will almost certainly be a full-time starter after appearing in eight games as a rookie. The Lions are also considering an expanded role for fourth-year tackle Jason Fox, who didn't play a single 2012 snap.
Source: detroitlions.com
Jan 19 - 8:46 PM
Riley Reiff - T - Lions

Lions GM Martin Mayhew confirmed that the team sees Riley Reiff as a tackle in the NFL.

"He can play four spots," Mayhew said. "He could evolve over time, but I see him at tackle right now." The first-round rookie out of Iowa started eight games in 2012 but was really a part-timer behind LT Jeff Backus and RT Gosder Cherilus. Backus is 35 and uncertain if he will return for 2013 while Cherilus is a free agent. Reiff will almost certainly be a full-time starter in 2013.
Source: Detroit Free Press
Jan 6 - 12:00 PM
Riley Reiff - T - Lions

Lions first-round pick Riley Reiff played 22-of-78 offensive snaps in Sunday's Week 6 win over Philadelphia.

It was Reiff's biggest snap count of his rookie season to this point. Reiff has been used as a sixth lineman on obvious running downs, and helped spring Mikel Leshoure (14 yards) and Joique Bell (13) for their longest gains of the game against the Eagles. Per beat writer Dave Birkett, the Lions still believe Reiff "can be a fixture" at left tackle once Jeff Backus calls it a career.
Source: Sporting News
Mon, Oct 15, 2012 03:14:00 PM
Riley Reiff - T - Lions

First-round OT Riley Reiff will open the season as a swing tackle.

Reiff never got a real chance to unseat long-time LT Jeff Backus or RT Gosder Cherilus. The Lions will continue to groom him to eventually step in as Matthew Stafford's blindside protector. Backus will be 35 in September and his contract is up after the 2013 season.
Related: Jeff Backus, Gosder Cherilus
Source: Detroit Free Press
Wed, Sep 5, 2012 11:00:00 AM
Riley Reiff - T - Lions

No. 23 pick OT Riley Reiff says he didn't play any guard in the Lions' offseason program, and "hasn't been approached" about doing so.

GM Martin Mayhew hinted in May that Reiff could see time at guard as a rookie, but he'll focus on unseating RT Gosder Cherilus or locking down swing-tackle duties in camp. Reiff boasts prototypical-tackle size at 6-foot-6, 313 pounds, but has non-ideal arm length at 33 1/4 inches.
Source: Tim Twentyman on Twitter
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 01:44:00 PM
Riley Reiff - T - Lions

Lions signed No. 23 overall pick OT Riley Reiff to a four-year, $7.993 million contract.

Reiff got his deal done just in time to report with the rest of the Lions' rookies on Monday. The 2011 first-team All-Big Ten selection's future is as Jeff Backus' successor at left tackle, but Reiff's best shot at cracking the starting lineup this season is to beat out underwhelming right tackle Gosder Cherilus at training camp. Only nine NFL first-round picks remain unsigned now.
Source: Tim Twentyman on Twitter
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 08:14:00 AM
Riley Reiff - T - Lions

Lions OC Scott Linehan expects No. 23 pick OT Riley Reiff to "play a lot of football for us really early."

"Where he ends up this year really hasn't been determined yet," Linehan said. "But we're just happy with what we've seen so far." Reiff has been practicing as the Lions' second-team left tackle in OTAs, but should push RT Gosder Cherilus in camp. At worst, Reiff will see heavy snaps as Detroit's swing tackle.
Source: Detroit Free Press
Tue, Jun 5, 2012 09:06:00 AM
Riley Reiff - T - Lions

First-round pick Riley Reiff is working as the second-team left tackle at Lions OTAs.

The fact that Reiff isn't even getting token first-team reps at OTAs suggests he's currently penciled in as the Lions' swing tackle. LT Jeff Backus' job is safe, but Reiff could begin pushing RT Gosder Cherilus in training camp.
Source: Detroit News
Tue, May 22, 2012 09:27:00 AM
Riley Reiff - T - Lions

The Detroit Free Press believes Lions' first-round pick OT Riley Reiff could be limited to swing-tackle duties as a rookie.

Reiff is Jeff Backus' heir apparent at left tackle, but is unlikely to unseat him as a rookie. That leaves Reiff to compete at right tackle, where incumbent Gosder Cherilus was a below-average blocker in 2011. If the Lions open right tackle to competition, we'd expect Reiff to win that job in training camp.
Source: Detroit Free Press
Mon, May 14, 2012 08:57:00 AM
Riley Reiff - T - Lions

Lions first-rounder Riley Reiff will not see any time at guard during this weekend's rookie minicamp.

The Lions have Rob Sims and Stephen Peterman locked in as the starters on the interior. Reiff will rotate to get equal snaps at left and right tackle this weekend, in anticipation of pushing for a starting job in training camp.
Source: Detroit Free Press
Fri, May 11, 2012 09:21:00 AM
Riley Reiff - T - Lions

GM Martin Mayhew confirmed that the Lions view No. 23 overall pick Riley Reiff as Jeff Backus' successor at left tackle.

"He's a guy that can eventually play left tackle for us and he can also play right tackle or guard," said Mayhew. "I think we'll have a really tough time keeping him off the field next year." Reiff's 2012 position will likely be determined by competition in minicamps and training camp.
Source: DetroitLions.com
Tue, May 1, 2012 04:01:00 PM

Depth Charts

Skill Players
PosRoleName
QB1Matthew Stafford
2Shaun Hill
3Kellen Moore
4Alex Carder
RB1Reggie Bush
2Mikel Leshoure
3Joique Bell
4Theo Riddick
5Steven Miller
GLB1Mikel Leshoure
2Reggie Bush
3RB1Reggie Bush
2Joique Bell
FB1Shaun Chapas
WR11Calvin Johnson
2Ryan Broyles
3Mike Thomas
4Brian Robiskie
5Chastin West
WR21Nate Burleson
2Corey Fuller
3Kris Durham
4Lance Long
5Devin Thomas
WR31Ryan Broyles
TE1Brandon Pettigrew
2Tony Scheffler
3Michael Williams
4Dominique Curry
5Nathan Overbay
K1David Akers
2Havard Rugland