Detroit Lions General Manager Martin Mayhew announced today during his pre-draft press conference that the club will pick up Offensive Tackle Riley Rieff’s fifth year option on is rookie contract, keeping him in Detroit for the 2016 season. Mayhew mentioned that they haven’t filed the paperwork just yet, but would be getting around to that shortly.
Rieff’s option will mean he will make just over eight million dollars for the 2016 season. In comparison, Rieff will make a base salary of $1.155 million dollars and a roster bonus of $325,000 during the 2015 season making his total cap hit $2.543 million when you factor in his signing bonus. The eight million dollar salary is only guaranteed for injury, meaning if his play declines so badly, they can release him without owing money, assuming it isn’t attributed to injury.
The one interesting tidbit about Mayhew’s press conference concerning Rieff’s future position. Mayhew mentioned he was “comfortable” with Rieff at either Right Tackle or Left Tackle in the future. That means the Lions could look to address the Offensive Line early in the draft, possibly grabbing a Left Tackle in the first round resulting in Rieff moving to the right side. The team still doesn’t have a Left Guard on the roster, but Mayhew didn’t mention Guard as a possible home for Rieff.
