The Pats sign former Bears OT Riley Reiff to build depth

FOXBORO, MA — The New England Patriots are expected to sign free agent offensive tackle Riley Reeve, sources say ESPN’s Diana Rossini.

The deal with the 34-year-old Reiff — who has started 149 career games and will vie for a senior role in protecting quarterback Mack Jones — highlights Bill Belichick’s early free agent strategy to build depth in the position where the team tested its injury streak last season.

In addition to Reiff, the Patriots have reached a two-year deal with former Denver Broncos offensive tackle Calvin Anderson (41 career games, 12 starts), sources confirm to ESPN. The team was also talking with offensive free agent Andre Dillard before he agreed to a deal with the Tennessee Titans, sources told Rossini.

Reiff, who entered the NFL as a first-round pick by the Detroit Lions in 2012 from Iowa, also played for the Vikings (2017-2020), Bengals (2021) and Bears (2022).

His expected addition likely meant the end of Isaiah Wynn’s injury-plagued tenure with the Patriots. Wayne, who was selected in the first round of the 2018 draft, is an unrestricted free agent.

The Patriots also extended their original round bid for restricted free agent offense Yodny Kagost, which would pay him $2.7 million on a one-year deal.

The team’s current offensive tackle depth chart includes Brown, Anderson, Cajust, seven-year veteran Connor McDermott and seventh-round draft pick Andrew Stoeber in 2022.

Reiff and Anderson are both flexible to play both points, although the majority of their gaming experience has been left side. That could indicate the team’s plans to return veteran Trent Brown to right tackle after he played left tackle last season.

Reiff played 6,546 snaps at left tackle, 2,028 at right tackle and 172 as a tight end at huge packs. He also has 34 tackles and one snap at left guard. Meanwhile, Anderson played 641 snaps at left tackle, 68 at right tackle and 1 hit as a tight end in the huge packs.