Is there a long-term replacement for Riley Reiff in the 2021 NFL Draft for the Minnesota Vikings?
Riley Reiff will be staying with the Minnesota Vikings for one more season. The veteran offensive lineman opted to restructure his contract to make financial room for stud defensive end Yannick Ngakoue and this was another big boost to the team’s chances of a deep postseason run this year.
There is no doubt that Reiff has had his share of doubters during his time with the Vikings. He did enjoy a bounce-back campaign in 2019 after struggling significantly the year before. But his future was still up in the air heading into this offseason thanks to Minnesota’s salary cap complications.
He appeared to be a prime candidate for release, which Reiff was eventually offered before deciding to take what the Vikings gave him on his current deal. The left tackle will likely need to play at an All-Pro level to see out the final season of his current contract in 2021 and even that might not be enough with the cap coming down due to a lack of revenue.
Releasing Reiff next spring would save the Vikings over $11 million, according to Spotrac. This simply makes too much sense to pass up, so the organization will need to start looking for a long-term solution to its edge protection.
Minnesota does have one of the NFL’s best young tackles in Brian O’Neill, but not having Reiff would leave a big void on the line of scrimmage. The Vikings still have plenty of draft picks despite giving up two to acquire Ngakoue and this seems to be the best route the team could go down for a potential starting left tackle for the foreseeable future.
Let’s take a look at five draft prospects that could potentially replace Reiff on Minnesota’s roster in 2021.
Alex Leatherwood – Alabama
Much will depend on where the Vikings are picking in the 2021 NFL Draft. But if it is late in the first round then a player like Alex Leatherwood should be high on their shortlist.
The Alabama standout has all the makings of a premier tackle at the next level. He comes from a prestigious program and boasts a wealth of big-game experience, so the transition to the NFL should be a smooth one despite the uncertainty surrounding the 2020 college football season.
Leatherwood is a commanding figure on the edge. His upper body strength is a standout feature of his overall game. This is matched by a thick base that makes him a formidable presence to move off the block.
Another impressive element to Leatherwood’s game that shouldn’t be overlooked is his quick feet. His reactions are not in keeping with a man of his size and this is something else that will jump out on film during the evaluation process.
It looks like the Crimson Tide are going to get some football this fall and this is good news for Leatherwood’s chances of improving his draft stock in the coming weeks. But there are some areas of his game that do need brushing up before he gets to the next level.
Leatherwood’s aggressiveness works in his favor for the most part. But he does have a tendency to gamble on plays that leave him stranded if things do not work out as expected.
His positioning has also come into question at times. However, Leatherwood comes with a high ceiling and he should be a first-round selection next year.
Jackson Carman – Clemson
One only has to look at Jackson Carman’s tape going up against stud pass-rusher Chase Young to see what skills he can bring to the NFL. He more than held his own against one of the best defensive ends to enter the league in a generation and this will stand him in good stead as he looks to make an even bigger impression in 2020.
Carman is a dominant force on the edge that did a tremendous job of protecting projected No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence’s blindside last season. His size is jaw-dropping and this is matched by ruthless aggression that makes him a nightmare for opposing defensive linemen to get around.
The tackle has an exceptional length that can keep even the speediest edge rushers at bay for the most part. Carman is only going to get better with another year of college football experience under his belt and if this can come with another National Championship with the Tigers, then it could see the lineman propel himself into the first round.
Carman will need to work on his recovery against more physically imposing players at the next level. Slotting him in at right tackle and moving Brian O’Neill over to the left would probably be the smartest way to go in this scenario for the Vikings. But this might also depend on what Minnesota’s plan is for rookie Ezra Cleveland during the early stages of his development.
Samuel Cosmi – Texas
Samuel Cosmi might be a little undersized when it comes to offensive tackles in the NFL. But there is no getting away from what an exciting prospect he is heading into his final college season.
The Texas offensive lineman has a tremendous amount going for him. This is down in no small part to the high football IQ that puts him in the best possible position to succeed on any given snap.
Cosmi’s ability to put himself at the right sort of angles has stood out considerably during his time with the Longhorns. This intelligence is going to serve him well in a professional environment and it is matched by an aggressive nature to his play that surprises opposing pass-rushers.
The tackle’s technique is up there with anyone in the college game outside of premier protector Penei Sewell of Oregon. The Vikings will not be in a position to select the Oregon sensation next spring. But someone like Cosmi might be worth a closer look if he takes another step forward in 2020.
Cosmi will need to spend some serious time in the weight room in order to make a real go of things in the NFL though. His rash decision-making is something else he needs to cut out of his game. But this is something that normally comes with more snaps on the field.
His inability to hold his balance against power rushes is another cause for concern. However, there is plenty to work with for whatever team that ends up taking Cosmi.
Dillon Radunz – North Dakota State
Someone who might be going under the radar who has a tremendous amount of upside is Dillon Radunz. His play has been a key factor in the NFL Draft buzz surrounding North Dakota quarterback Trey Lance and this might be an option worth considering for the Vikings at the right spot.
Radunz has an explosiveness that can leave opposing rushers on the floor in no time at all. This is matched with competitiveness and a strong technique that has the potential to ease his transition to the next level.
The lineman is very agile for a 6-foot-6, 301-pound man. Radunz is incredibly tough and this might be the primary reason why some of his flaws do not come to light more consistently at the college level.
There is every chance that the lineman can become a starter somewhere down the line. Radunz does not project to be a Day 1 starter. But if he can build his technique and cope better with quicker defensive ends, then someone is going to have a real player on their hands.
Radunz will enter the league with the same doubts as to his college signal-caller regarding the strength of competition in college. His dominance has been there for all to see. But going from his current standard of opposition to the NFL is going to be the steepest of challenges and is a massive step up in class.
Walker Little – Stanford
Another name that might come up in draft discussions regarding possible long-term replacements for Riley Reiff is Walker Little. The Stanford standout does come with his limitations. But he is highly coachable and should make significant strides once he gets to the NFL.
He boasts a wealth of experience as a tackle for the Cardinal and Little has performed well during his college career. He has exceptional lateral movement and fluid hips that allow him to adjust his blocks when the need fits. His strength of coping with power rushers is another eye-catching element of his film so far.
Little’s hand placement is tremendous, consistent, and can even overshadow his faults. This might not be the case at the next level, and this makes working on problem areas even more crucial before it is time to hear his name called next spring.
The lineman has had trouble with smaller defensive linemen during his career. Little is quite rigid in his motions from the snap and anyone with a lower center of gravity has used this to their advantage by getting underneath the block and into the backfield.
There is no disputing Little’s quickness and recovery ability when certain things do not go his way. This is all well and good at the college level, but it might not fly in the NFL.
Little has also suffered a serious leg injury in recent years that he may have recovered well from. But this will be closely examined by medical staff at the professional level before draft night.