On March 14, the Detroit Lions signed veteran defensive tackle D.J. Reader to a two-year contract, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Alex Anzalone, the defensive captain and linebacker for the Lions, is undoubtedly fond of the acquisition. Anzalone shared his joy about the Lions’ addition of Reader to the defensive line on X (previously Twitter).
With his height of 6 feet 3 inches and weight of 335 pounds, Reader is undoubtedly menacing as he gets off the bus. With the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023, he recorded 34 total tackles, including 2 tackles for loss and 7 quarterback hits, despite his stature.
He also recorded one sack, one interception, and one recovered fumble.
Reader is obviously intimidating as he steps off the bus because of his height of 6 feet 3 inches and weight of 335 pounds.
Despite his size, he earned 34 total tackles with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023, including 2 tackles for loss and 7 quarterback hits. In addition, he recorded one interception, one recovered fumble, and one sack.
According to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, Reader’s two-year contract is worth up to $27.25 million. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network continued, saying that Reader will get a guarantee of more than $9 million.
Lions supporters on social media have been urging the team to make a major splash for the defensive line, even though they signed defensive end Marcus Davenport.
Reader was the Lions’ response to those calls.
Similar to Anzalone, media representatives for the Lions voiced their enthusiasm for Reader’s visit to Detroit.
Based on his player grades on Pro Football Focus, Reader has performed exceptionally well during his career.
Among Bengals defense players with more than 25 snaps, Reader had the third-best PFF player grade in 2023.
His mark of 82 (out of100) or higher was what he achieved for the second year in a row.
In 2019, he got a career-high 85.4 PFF grade; in the previous two seasons, he had scored 79.
Reader was ranked eleventh by PFF among defensive tackles who saw at least fifty percent of his team’s defensive snaps in 2023.
Though Reader will turn 30 in July, the Lions have not signed him past the age of 31.
He will be positioned next to budding star and defensive tackle Alim McNeill, who finished second on the Lions in sack totals with five last season.
The next season, Anzalone’s life at linebacker might be a lot simpler with Reader and McNeill blocking the middle.
