There's a major difference between a player being good and being good at a discount. That might be the case with veteran defensive tackle D.J. Reader, who's having a tough time finding a new home after hitting free agency.
According to Spotrac, Reader has a projected market value of a two-year, $7.7 million deal, an average annual value of nearly $3.9 million. While that's not a lot, lowering that number might help him find his way back to Motor City.
D.J. Reader May Have no Choice But to Return to Detroit
We're in the middle of the third week of free agency, and there has been little to no buzz around Reader. He doesn't play a prime position, and teams aren't lining up to give a soon-to-be 32-year-old a big-money deal. However, that doesn't mean he's not valuable at the right price.
As things stand now, the Lions have Levi Onwuzurike, Tyleik Williams, and Alim McNeill at defensive tackle. Roy Lopez signed with the Arizona Cardinals, so bringing Reader back as a rotational/depth piece might not be the worst idea.
The Lions gave Reader a two-year, $22 million deal back in 2024. That was solid value for someone who had built a reputation as a mauler in the interior of the defensive line and an elite run stopper. Still, that wasn't always the case on the field.
Last season, Reader started all 17 regular-season games for Dan Campbell's team. He posted 28 total tackles (11 solo) and quarterback hits. Oddly enough, he didn't register a single tackle for loss or sacks.
That said, he wasn't terrible, either. Pro Football Focus gave him an overall 68.9 grade, which ranked 30th among 134 eligible defensive tackles. He was much better as a pass rusher (72.6, 21st), but his so-called strength, the run defense, was actually a bit of a liability (61.7, 36th).
Reader isn't done in the league, and he still has something left in the tank. Despite playing just 313 pass-rushing snaps and 583 total snaps, he still put up 20 pressures and can be a game-changer now and then.
If he's willing to face facts and realize that he's not "that guy" anymore, making him more receptive to taking less than his projected market value in his next contract, the Lions might want to have a conversation. Otherwise, he might find a tough time landing elsewhere, especially after the draft, when money is scarce.