One man's garbage is another man's gold.
Speaking of NFL free agency …
The Vikings got better this week. Whether they get good again may depend on whether they strike gold with what Detroit considered garbage.
Riley Reiff became the Vikings' prized offseason acquisition and starting left tackle as soon as the free-agency signing period opened Thursday. It must have been a welcoming moment for a former first-round draft pick who spent the past year feeling more and more unwelcome in the Motor City.
Reiff was selected 23rd overall in 2012. From that season until draft day a year ago, he was Detroit's left tackle.
The Lions didn't consider him up to the task. So they drafted Ohio State's Taylor Decker 16th overall last year and made him their starting left tackle immediately. Reiff was moved to right tackle and allowed to play out the final year of his contract at age 27.
The Lions beat the Vikings twice but went 7-7 otherwise. Again, Detroit targeted its offensive line for an upgrade. Again, Reiff didn't make the grade.
He officially was wheeled to the curb this week as Detroit made former Raven Rick Wagner the league's highest-paid right tackle at more than $9 million a season.