The Lions declined to exercise defensive tackle Nick Fairley’s $5 million-plus fifth-year team option for 2015 when given the opportunity to last offseason. Fairley is now a member of the Rams after the Lions declined to re-sign him.
General Manager Martin Mayhew is faced with the same decision again this offseason with 2012 first-round offensive lineman Riley Reiff. It would seem like a no-brainer decision to at least exercise the non-guaranteed option, especially with Reiff having missed just one start the past two seasons. Unlike Fairley, Reiff doesn’t have the weight concerns and off-field question marks.
“I’m not going to get into that right now,” Mayhew said from the Owners’ Meetings via the Detroit Free Press. “We haven’t made a final determination on how that process is going to go.”
Last year, the fifth-year team option for offensive linemen was worth $7.4 million. Tackles, guards, and centers all are lumped into the same group when it comes to the fifth-year option. So, even with the Lions unsure if they’re going to kick Reiff inside to guard this season, it shouldn’t have much of an effect on their decision.
At this point in time, having that security with Reiff under control through 2016 is worth $7.4 million. As long as he doesn’t suffer a career-threatening injury in 2015, the Lions can cut him with no penalty next offseason and save the $7.4 million if they don’t deem him worthy of that salary. A long-term deal would be in the best interest of both sides.