The Detroit Lions select Riley Reiff Offensive Tackle from Iowa with the 23 pick of the 2012 NFL Draft. Reiff is a 6’6″ 300lbs Junior that was first team All-America by Pro Football Weekly in 2011. First team all-Big Ten by league coaches and media; first team all-Big Ten by Phil Steele and second team all-Big Ten by College Football Madness. He also won three state wrestling championships. I could go on, but the real deal is the fact that Reiff was there at 23. He was rated anywhere from 8 to 15 among all the players in the draft by talent evaluators. To me this is another player that has fell in the lap of the Lions.

Taking the Best Player Available is the drum that has been banging for 4 years now and most still don’t understand it. Weather you like this pick or any of the picks that the Lions have made you can’t argue that the teams is getting better every year. Reiff can play Right or Left Tackle. Yes he can compete with Gosder Cherilus for RT. Immediately. This could also be the successor to Jeff Backus when he decides to hang up his helmet.

With this pick many will say that they needed an Offensive Lineman and yes this is true but getting the 2nd best guy on the O-Line at 23 is the value of the talent in Riley Reiff. Need has met value and it will happen with this phylosphy. Compare that to the 2008 draft when the Lions took Gosder Cherilus. The 5th Offensive Tackle off the board at the 17th pick. Teams like the Bills, Cardinals and Bears all need a Tackle and passed on Rieff. Maybe it is because the knock on him is arms aren’t as long as a typical Tackle.

I could only point out that Riley Reiff was still out there when New England was on the clock at 21. Not a real prediction. Just noticing the BPA. I will take it. As long as Mayhew and crew keep this up this team will always be in the mix.

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—Smitty

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