Two former Vikings joined new teams on Friday, and both took pay cuts.
Tackle Riley Reiff, released last week, signed a one-year deal with Cincinnati worth $7.5 million, with $5.5 million guaranteed. Safety Anthony Harris, a free agent, agreed to a one-year deal, $5 million deal with Philadelphia.
Reiff made a total of $7.9 million last season, so his pay cut was minimal. Harris played last season under the franchise tag of $11.441 million when the Vikings opted not to sign him to a lucrative long-term extension. After an impressive 2019 season, which included tying for the NFL lead with six interceptions, Harris had an uninspiring 2020, which included no interceptions.
Reiff played left tackle for the Vikings the past four seasons but said in a Zoom call Friday that he will be Cincinnati’s starting right tackle. He had been on the books to make $11.75 million in the final year of his contract before the Vikings let him go when he declined to take a pay cut for the second straight year.
Reiff had taken a $5 million cut from $10.9 million to $5.9 million last season. He ended up getting $2 million back in bonuses, making his total $7.9 million.
Reiff, entering his 10th NFL season, took a free-agent visit to Cincinnati on Thursday and Friday. At a dinner on Thursday, he met quarterback Joe Burrow.
“I walked away from eating that steak wanting to block for that guy,” Reiff said. “Really impressed with him. … I feel like I fit in here. You look at the foundation with the quarterback here.”
Since Reiff was let go and the Vikings saved $11.09 million on the salary cap, they have not made a move with any offensive linemen except to re-sign tackle Rashod Hill to a one-year, $2.3775 million contract. Candidates on the roster to replace Reiff at left tackle are Ezra Cleveland, who played right guard last season as a rookie; Brian O’Neill, the right tackle in his first three seasons, and Hill, who has been the swing tackle.
It also remains uncertain who will replace Harris as a Minnesota starting safety to be paired with Harrison Smith. The Vikings have on the roster Josh Metellus, who played sparingly last year as a rookie, but they might look in free agency for a replacement.
A source said there hasn’t been recent interest expressed by the Vikings regarding free agent Andrew Sendejo but that he does remain on their distant radar. Sendejo played for Minnesota from 2011-18 and in the second half of 2019. He spent last season with Cleveland.
Former Packers star safety LeRoy Butler told the Pioneer Press on Thursday he believes cornerback Patrick Peterson, who has agreed to terms with the Vikings as a free agent, should be considered a candidate to move to safety.
“He could play the safety spot with Anthony Harris gone, and I think he’d be a fantastic safety,” Butler said.
Harris will join another former Vikings safety on the Eagles’ roster. They have Marcus Epps, who was claimed on waivers from Philadelphia midway through his rookie season of 2019. Epps was waived after the Vikings claimed Sendejo on waivers from the Eagles.
