Lions' Reiff: I'll play anywhere on the OL

Riley Reiff doesn't know which position he'll be playing when he reports for off-season workouts next month, and the Detroit Lions' fourth-year offensive lineman doesn't much care.

"People get overhyped about it, but I don't care," Reiff told the Daily Republic of South Dakota, after a weekend appearance at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sioux Empire. "I like playing, and wherever they want to put me, that's fine. I'll play."

Reiff has started 32 of a possible 33 games at left tackle the last two seasons, after playing as the Lions' sixth offensive lineman as a rookie.

He was one of the team's most consistent blockers last year, but Lions coach Jim Caldwell acknowledged at the NFL owners meetings last week that he's not sure whether Reiff will be the team's left or right tackle going forward.

"He can play both, to be honest with you," Caldwell said. "He can both and not have an issue, play extremely well. Let me just put it this way: Anytime you put a guy at your left tackle position, he can play right. Trust me, OK? And this guy can play left."

The Lions have several openings on their offensive line. Travis Swanson will take over as center this fall, and Larry Warford returns at right guard, but they're looking for a replacement at left guard and have some uncertainty at right tackle, where LaAdrian Waddle is recovering from knee surgery and backup Cornelius Lucas is more comfortable playing on the left side.

Reiff ranked as the NFL's 14th-best left tackle by Pro Football Focus last year, but his position hinges somewhat on Waddle's recovery, Lucas' development and what the Lions do in the NFL draft, in which they could take a lineman early.

Several offensive tackles figure to go in the latter part of the first round next month, though most project as right tackles. The Lions pick No. 23 in the first round.

Note: ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay released his fourth mock draft of the year this morning, and he has the Lions taking Texas defensive tackle Malcom Brown, a player often linked to Detroit in mocks.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.