NFL Free Agency: Vikings To Sign Mike OL Remmers

The Minnesota Vikings started off free agency yesterday by signing T Riley Reiff, but needed another tackle to add to the offensive line makeover.

A little while ago, it was reported that the Vikings have their second offensive lineman in as many days, as Mike Remmers, late of the Carolina Panthers, is expected to sign a contract with the team. According to his agent Brett Tessler, the deal is worth $30 million dollars.

Although Remmers and Reiff aren't the big names that some fans wanted, they are substantial upgrades to what was one of the worst offensive lines in franchise history. But how much of an upgrade? Well, let's use Pro Football Focus as a baseline...mainly because I can't find a metric that has the same comparative numbers.

In 2016, PFF graded out Remmers/Reiff and the Vikings tackles like so:

TJ Clemmings 28.3
Matt Kalil 36.9
Andre Smith 39.1
Jake Long 63.9

Riley Reiff 67.5
Mike Remmers 66.1

If you want to make the valid argument that 2016 was an anomaly because of all the injuries, okay. And hey, it's a legitimate point. So let's go back to 2015, when the two Vikings tackles, Kalil and Clemmings, were relatively healthy and played all year:

Matt Kalil 68.4
TJ Clemmings 39.7

Riley Reiff 77.5
Mike Remmers 72.1

So the Vikings have gotten some much needed help on the o-line, and at face value, both guys look to be decent to substantial upgrades over what Minnesota had the last couple of years.

Welcome to Minnesota, Mike Remmers!