NY Jets hosting top backup swing tackle, Riley Reiff, on a visit

Justin Fried

NY Jets, Riley Reiff / Gregory Shamus/GettyImages

The NY Jets could be on the verge of a pretty notable post-draft signing in the form of a player who fills a massive need on the roster. That is, if their reported visit with veteran swing tackle Riley Reiff goes well.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Thursday that Reiff is set to visit with the Jets today. The 33-year-old spent last season with the Cincinnati Bengals after nearly a decade split between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings.

With almost 140 career starts under his belt, Reiff would be a perfect addition for the Jets. He's easily the best swing tackle still available on the market, and that's a position the Jets desperately need to address.

General manager Joe Douglas remains active in the free-agent market post-draft and Reiff might just become priority No. 1 for Gang Green.

Riley Reiff should be the top target for the NY Jets

The 23rd overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, Reiff spent the first five years of his career in Detroit where he started 55 games at left tackle before moving over to right tackle in his final season.

All the while, Reiff looked the part of a rock-solid starting tackle even putting together consecutive seasons with a 78.0+ Pro Football Focus grade.

He'd go on to sign a hefty five-year, $58.75 million contract with the Vikings the following offseason and he immediately took over the team's starting left tackle job.

In four years in Minnesota, Reiff started 58 games and served as an average starter at his position. He was released prior to the 2021 season before signing on with the Bengals. They'd move Reiff back to right tackle where he would start 12 games before suffering a season-ending ankle injury.

Reiff has been a starter in the NFL for the past decade and has finished with a PFF grade south of 67.0 just once (2017). With ample starting experience at both left and right tackle, you aren't going to find a better swing tackle option available right now.

In fact, I've been banging the table for the Jets to sign him since mid-March. The only hold-up on my end was gauging his price tag given that he could have had offers to start from other teams.

Riley Reiff is a top remaining free agent who fills a major position of need. This should be a no-brainer for the Jets. Get it done.

Justin Fried

Justin Fried is an editor for FanSided who has over seven years of experience covering the NFL and various other sports. A diehard Jets fan since birth, Justin has served as the editor for The Jet Press since 2019, interviewing athletes such as Sauce Gardner, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Klecko, and many others. Justin has also worked closely with brands like Red Bull to help highlight the niche sectors of the sporting world. His four-part series on the sport of breaking remains one of his proudest pieces of work. In his spare time, Justin is an avid pro wrestling fan who is fortunate enough to have traveled to nearly 30 different countries.