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Tag: D.J. Reader

  • Predicting Where D.J. Reader Will Play in 2026

    D.J. Reader did exactly what the Detroit Lions asked him to do.

    He showed up, anchored the middle of the defensive line, started every game, and handled the dirty work that rarely shows up in highlight packages. Now, after completing a two-year, $22 million deal with Detroit, the 31-year-old nose tackle is back on the market, and his next destination feels increasingly clear.

    Reader’s Lions Tenure: Reliable, But Costly

    Reader’s value to Detroit was never about sacks. It was about stability in the trenches.

    In 2025, he played 583 defensive snaps and posted a 68.5 overall PFF grade, ranking 33rd out of 134 interior defensive linemen. His 71.8 pass-rush grade (24th among defensive tackles) showed he still offers push in the pocket, even if the stat sheet didn’t reflect it. He also logged 20 total pressures, which ranked 62nd at the position.

    Against the run, Reader graded at 61.7, placing him 36th among defensive tackles. Not elite—but solid, especially for a space-eater whose primary job is keeping linebackers clean.

    The issue for Detroit isn’t performance. It’s age, role, and money.

    Why Detroit Moving On Makes Sense

    Reader turns 32 during the 2026 season, and the Lions are clearly trending younger and more flexible along the defensive front. With void years already hitting the cap and Detroit needing to allocate resources elsewhere, paying starter money for a nose tackle in his 30s doesn’t align with where Brad Holmes has been steering this roster.

    Detroit could still use Reader, but not at the price he’s likely to command on the open market.

    Cincinnati Is the Perfect Fit

    If this feels familiar, it’s because it is.

    Reader spent four seasons in Cincinnati (2020–2023) and played some of the best football of his career there. In his prime with the Bengals, he consistently graded as a top-10 interior defensive lineman, anchoring one of the league’s toughest run defenses.

    Fast forward to 2025, and Cincinnati has a glaring problem.

    The Bengals finished dead last against the run and ranked bottom three in points and yards allowed. Their defense desperately needs interior stability, leadership, and someone who understands the system.

    Reader checks every box.

    He’s no longer the dominant force he once was—but at an estimated $6 million per year, he’s still more than capable of fixing a major problem for a defense that collapsed up front.

    The Verdict

    This isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about need.

    Detroit got solid value from D.J. Reader, but their roster priorities are shifting. Cincinnati, on the other hand, has an urgent hole, and a familiar answer.

    Prediction: D.J. Reader signs with the Cincinnati Bengals for the 2026 season.

    Don Drysdale

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  • 3 Players the Detroit Lions COULD Use the Franchise Tag on in 2026

    Every offseason, the same question pops up around the NFL: Who’s getting franchise-tagged? And for the Detroit Lions, it’s a fair thing to wonder, especially with several familiar veterans headed toward free agency.

    But when you dig into the numbers and the context, it becomes pretty clear why the franchise tag is more theory than reality for Detroit this year.

    The Lions Do Have Tag-Eligible Veterans

    If general manager Brad Holmes wanted to use the franchise tag, he wouldn’t be short on candidates. Three veterans from the 2025 roster stand out as logical possibilities based on role and experience:

    • Defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad
    • Linebacker Alex Anzalone
    • Defensive tackle D.J. Reader

    All three played meaningful roles for Detroit and all three are set to hit the open market. In a vacuum, keeping any — or all — of them would make the roster better.

    That’s where the vacuum ends.

    The Franchise Tag Comes With a Catch

    The problem isn’t player value, it’s price.

    The franchise (and transition) tag doesn’t care what a player’s true market value is. It automatically bumps them into the upper tier of salaries at their position, which means a massive raise compared to what each of these players is projected to earn in free agency.

    For a team swimming in cap space, that’s manageable.
    For the Lions? Not so much.

    Detroit is currently projected to be over the cap heading into the 2026 offseason. That reality alone makes the franchise tag a tough sell.

    Using it would require additional moves just to get compliant — and then you’re still committing top-of-market money to a player whose expected free-agent deal likely comes in much lower.

    Why Holmes Is Unlikely to Overpay

    Brad Holmes has been consistent since arriving in Detroit: he doesn’t overextend financially just to keep a name around.

    Tagging Muhammad, Anzalone, or Reader would almost certainly qualify as a MAJOR overpay relative to their expected contracts. Even though each player brings value, the cost of the tag would limit flexibility elsewhere — and Detroit has bigger-picture decisions to make across the roster.

    This is especially true with younger players approaching extension windows and premium positions still needing attention.

    Smart Cap Management Over Splashy Moves

    Could the Lions technically use the franchise tag? Sure.

    Will they? Almost certainly not.

    Detroit’s approach is more likely to involve:

    • Letting the market set prices
    • Negotiating team-friendly deals where possible
    • Being willing to move on when the numbers stop making sense

    It’s not flashy, but it’s exactly how this front office has helped turn the Lions into a perennial contender.

    In short: don’t expect a franchise-tag headline out of Allen Park this spring. The math — and the philosophy — just doesn’t support it.

    Jeff Bilbrey

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  • Detroit Lions Take Dead Cap Hit as Two Veteran Contracts Void

    The Detroit Lions officially saw the contracts of defensive tackle D.J. Reader and linebacker Alex Anzalone void on Thursday, according to Spotrac, leaving behind $4,929,000 in dead cap for the 2026 season.

    Both veterans are 31 years old and are now set to hit the open market ahead of free agency next month. Despite the voided contracts, Spotrac notes that both players are expected to draw solid interest once teams are able to negotiate.

    For Detroit, the dead cap charge is manageable but notable as the front office continues to balance roster flexibility with long-term cap planning. Reader and Anzalone were key contributors during their time in Detroit, particularly as tone-setters for Dan Campbell’s defense.

    With free agency approaching, the Lions will now have to decide whether to pursue either veteran on a new deal or allow both players to move on as they reshape the roster for the 2026 season.

    Jeff Bilbrey

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  • D.J. Reader Opens Up About Detroit, Teammates, and Whether He’ll Be Back

    Detroit Lions veteran defensive tackle D.J. Reader isn’t sure what the future holds, but if it were up to him, he’d keep wearing Honolulu blue.

    “I’d love to be here, love the guys, love the coaches, so we’ll see,” Reader said via the Detroit Free Press. “You never know how free agency works out… but I’ve enjoyed my time here.”

    And honestly, you can hear the sincerity in his voice.

    Over the past two seasons in Detroit, Reader has been more than just a body in the middle of the defensive line, he’s been a tone-setter, leader, and mentor in a room full of young talent. Even if his stat line doesn’t scream superstardom, his impact has been steady and respected.

    Production That Doesn’t Always Show Up on the Stat Sheet

    Reader logged 554 defensive snaps in 2025 (39th among interior defenders), finishing the year with:

    • 19 total pressures
    • 11 solo tackles
    • 0 sacks
    • 0 forced fumbles

    According to Pro Football Focus, Reader earned a 69.4 overall grade this season, ranking 31st out of 128 qualifying defensive tackles, keeping him firmly in that “above-average, reliable veteran” tier that coaches trust in tough situations.

    For his career, Reader has now appeared in 136 games, totaling:

    • 171 solo tackles
    • 12.5 sacks
    • 1 forced fumble

    He isn’t the flashy stat-sheet guy, and he knows it, but he believes the film still backs up his value.

    “I know stats may not reflect exactly what things may seem, but I’ve felt like I’ve played some decent ball,” Reader said. “Others may feel different. So, I’ve enjoyed it.”

    A Leader in the Locker Room — Not Just on Sundays

    Reader called his time in Detroit “a lot” for his career, both personally and professionally. He even set a career-high with three sacks in 2024, and along the way embraced a mentorship role with Detroit’s younger defensive linemen.

    He joked that he’s “gained some little brothers for life.”

    He was also Detroit’s Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee, which says as much about his character as anything he’s done on the field.

    “I’ve enjoyed just being in a new city, getting to meet some new people, enjoyed the work environment. It’s been good.”

    So… Do the Lions Bring Him Back?

    That’s the big question.

    Reader made it clear: he wants to stay. But he also knows Brad Holmes has bigger contractual priorities to sort through first.

    “They got some other stuff they got to take care of… You never know how that shakes out.”

    Detroit has some roster decisions coming on the defensive line, and Reader’s age plus mileage will factor in, but so will experience, leadership, and scheme trust.

    This may come down to one thing: Do the Lions value his veteran presence enough to keep him in the rotation?

    Based on how teammates talk about him… that answer might lean yes.

    Jeff Bilbrey

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  • 4 Detroit Lions Veterans Who Might Not Return in 2026

    With Aidan Hutchinson’s new four-year, $180 million extension, the Detroit Lions have locked down yet another franchise cornerstone, and the financial numbers are staggering.

    As noted by Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Detroit’s front office has now committed $968.5 million, yes, nearly $1 billion, in long-term extensions to the players they believe form their championship nucleus.

    That elite group includes Hutchinson, Jared Goff, Penei Sewell, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Kerby Joseph, Alim McNeill, Taylor Decker, David Montgomery, and Jameson Williams.

    In total, that’s nine players extended since spring 2024, which tells you one thing: the Lions are betting big on their homegrown core. But when you spend that kind of money to keep your stars, something has to give.

    The Reality Check

    The Lions’ front office deserves credit for its aggressive approach, but the side effect of nearly a billion dollars in commitments is that not everyone can stay.

    The team’s stellar 2023 draft class, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell, Sam LaPorta, and Brian Branch, will be eligible for extensions next offseason, and several veterans are set to hit free agency after 2025.

    Here are four veterans who could be wearing new colors by the 2026 season.

    1. D.J. Reader, DT

    D.J. Reader has been an excellent veteran presence up front, helping set the tone in the run game while mentoring younger linemen. But at 31 and on a short-term deal, his days in Detroit could be numbered.

    With Tyleik Williams waiting in the wings and Alim McNeill back healthy, the Lions may decide to save money and go younger at defensive tackle. Reader’s leadership has been invaluable, but Detroit’s track record suggests they prefer investing in players who haven’t yet reached their peak years.

    Verdict: Reader’s run in Detroit will end after 2025 as the team transitions to its next wave of interior defenders.

    2. Marcus Davenport, EDGE

    When healthy (when is he healthy?), Marcus Davenport has flashed the ability to be a dominant pass rusher. The issue? Staying healthy.

    The Lions took a calculated risk signing Davenport, but with Aidan Hutchinson now secured long-term, Al-Quadin Muhammad emerging as a solid pass rusher, and Ahmed Hassanein developing as a potential rotational edge piece, Detroit may not want to allocate additional resources here.

    If Davenport doesn’t come back and deliver consistent production this season, it’s hard to imagine him earning a new contract.

    Verdict: The Lions will move on from Davenport following the 2025 season.

    3. Alex Anzalone, LB

    Alex Anzalone has been one of Dan Campbell’s most trusted veterans since day one. He’s smart, dependable, and embodies the culture Detroit has built.

    However, with Jack Campbell ascending into the leadership role and Derrick Barnes emerging as a very solid linebacker, Anzalone may become expendable purely due to cap and age.

    Verdict: His leadership won’t be forgotten, but Detroit’s linebacker room is getting younger and cheaper.

    4. Amik Robertson, CB

    Few players have embraced the Lions’ “grit” mentality like Amik Robertson. His energy and physicality have made him a fan favorite, but with Terrion Arnold, Brian Branch, and D.J. Reed locked in, there may not be room to re-sign him in 2026.

    Robertson has proven he belongs, but Detroit’s secondary is loaded with young, cost-controlled talent.

    Verdict: A strong contributor, but likely a cap casualty when the next round of extensions hits.

    Why It Matters

    What’s happening in Detroit is both a blessing and a challenge. Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell have built one of the NFL’s deepest rosters, full of drafted and developed stars.

    But now, the Lions are entering the financial balancing act that every contender faces. When you commit nearly $1 billion in contracts, veterans on shorter deals become vulnerable.

    The success of the 2025 and 2026 offseasons will depend on Holmes’ ability to draft and develop replacements just as effectively as he built the current core.

    The Bottom Line

    The Detroit Lions have officially arrived as one of the NFL’s premier franchises, one that keeps its stars and rewards production. But with long-term commitments totaling $968.5 million, tough goodbyes are coming.

    Players like D.J. Reader, Marcus Davenport, Alex Anzalone, and Amik Robertson could all be victims of Detroit’s success story.

    In a way, that’s the best problem a franchise can have: too much talent worth keeping.

    Jeff Bilbrey

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  • Lions Veteran Blasts RGIII After He Says Brian Branch Should Be Suspended

    Detroit Lions defensive lineman D.J. Reader has fired back at Robert Griffin III after the former NFL quarterback publicly called for Brian Branch to be suspended following Sunday’s postgame scuffle with JuJu Smith-Schuster.

    Griffin took to social media, writing:

    “Brian Branch started the fight on the field. Brian Branch threw a punch and knocked JuJu Smith-Schuster down. Brian Branch should be suspended. THERE IS NO PLACE IN SPORTS FOR THAT.”

    Reader didn’t hold back in his response, posting:

    “The retirement done turned you into something different.”

    The veteran’s message seemed to suggest that Griffin, once a player himself, should better understand the emotions that come with heated postgame moments, especially after what Branch described as a “childish reaction” to being blocked illegally in the back by Smith-Schuster late in the game.

    What’s Next for Detroit

    The NFL is reviewing the incident, and Branch could still face a fine or possible suspension, a major concern for a Lions secondary already battling injuries. Safety Kerby Joseph continues to nurse a knee issue, while rookie Thomas Harper saw extended action against Kansas City.

    Detroit will look to regroup as they prepare for a pivotal Monday Night Football matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

    Don Drysdale

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