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Getty Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll.
The Seattle Seahawks head into training camp with cap space and roster flexibility, and while GM John Schneider hasn’t made any significant moves recently, one analyst thinks he should go after an intriguing veteran free agent.
Former Seahawks wide receiver Michael Bumpus made a video for Seattle Sports 710AM giving a couple of free agents he thinks the team should sign. He suggested a meeting with former running back Carlos Dunlap, but also suggested the team make a move on offensive tackle and former first-round pick Riley Reiff.
“The best thing about this guy is he’s 33 years old, he’s been all over the league, he can play right tackle and left tackle,” Bumpus said. “You’ve got two young guys in those spots, what if something happens? … You bring in a veteran like Riley Reiff and let him do his thing.”
Training camp is fast approaching, so the Seahawks may want to make a move for a veteran like Reiff sooner rather than later.
Riley Reiff’s football career
Reiff has been in the league for a decade, playing for a handful of teams. However, the veteran offensive tackle’s career aspirations began in high school in Parkston, South Dakota.
A 3-star recruit from high school and the highest-ranked player in South Dakota, Reiff committed to playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes. After redshirting his freshman year, the Sporting News named Reiff a member of the Big Ten All-Freshman First Team, starting 11 of 13 games.
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By his third redshirt year, Reiff had become an All-American and began to attract the attention of NFL scouts with his impressive size and athleticism. The 6’6″ tackle had a solid pre-draft process before being selected by the Detroit Lions with the 23rd overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.
Reiff was remarkably consistent for the Lions, missing only three games in five seasons. After he finished his rookie deal, Reiff was able to sign a five-year, $58.75 million deal with the Minnesota Vikings. He started all but six games over four seasons with Minnesota before being released after the 2020 season.
That turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Reiff, who signed a contract with the Cincinnati Bengals before the 2021 season. He started 12 games before being placed on injured reserve in December, but was part of a team that made a magical run. to the Super Bowl before falling to the Los Angeles Rams.
Now, Reiff is a 33-year-old free agent looking for a new team. It’s nearing the end of his NFL career, but Reiff has rarely missed games throughout his decade in the league, and a team like the Seahawks could use a reliable veteran tackle while its two rookies develop.
Both of Seattle’s rookie offensive tackles
Adding a veteran offensive tackle would be a safe move for the Seahawks, but even if that doesn’t happen, the future is bright for Seattle’s offensive line thanks to rookies Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas.
Cross was the team’s first pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, placing ninth overall. As a former 5-star high school student, Cross has a combination of excellent movement skills and playing strength that makes him a force despite his smaller frame at 6’5″ and 307 pounds. Expectations are high for Cross, who was named to the NFL.com preseason All-Rookie team.
With Cross expected to keep the left tackle job, fellow rookie Abraham Lucas will compete to start at right tackle. Lucas was born and raised in Washington state, playing for the Washington State Cougars before moving on to the third round.
Playing in a strong flak offense, Lucas has plenty of pass protection experience at right tackle. However, he is not a guarantee to secure the starting job, as Jake Curhan tries to keep the right tackle job after holding on last year.
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