Heading into free agency next month, the Detroit Lions will have to figure out what they plan to do to bolster their defensive line.
Many Lions fans want to see general manager Brad Holmes add more weapons on the edge to help complement Aidan Hutchinson. However, regarding the defensive tackle position, the Lions must make a tough call on whether or not to keep veteran D.J. Reader.
The 31-year-old Reader is scheduled to become a free agent next month after spending the last two years in the Motor City. This season, the veteran defender racked up 28 combined tackles, nine quarterback pressures, and four quarterback hits across 17 starts.
Even though he didn’t get a single sack, Reader was still one of the better defensive linemen at rushing the passer in the league with a 71.8 grade (ranked 24th among 134 eligible defensive linemen), per Pro Football Focus.
However, he left a little bit to be desired in the run-stopping department with a 61.7 grade. That said, in a perfect world, Lions fans would be all for Reader returning at the right price. But that might not be the case, considering the other players at the position.
Lions Have Tough DJ Reader Decision to Make Before Free Agency
In addition to Reader being a free agent, the Lions must figure out what to do with Roy Lopez, who was one of the unsung heroes on the defense this season.
The 28-year-old defensive tackle joined Detroit last offseason on a one-year, $3.5 million deal, and outplayed his contract. According to Pro Football Focus, Lopez had a 63.6 pass rush grade and a 68.9 run defense grade. Those aren’t bad for a rotational defensive lineman, who played 39% of defensive snaps.
One could argue that the Lions would be better off prioritizing Lopez over Reader in free agency, which is a huge gamble. According to Spotrac, Lopez’s market value is a three-year, $19M deal with an AAV of $6.4M. That’s a hefty penny off a one-year breakout.
Meanwhile, Reader’s calculated market value is coming in at a two-year, $7.7 million deal ($3.9 million AAV), which isn’t terrible for a player at his age. But the Lions could use that money to add a pass rusher or depth to their linebacker unit, which they could also need with Alex Anzalone set to become a free agent.
As for the other defensive tackles on the roster, the Lions are in good shape with Alim McNeill, Levi Onwuzurike, Tyleik Williams, and Mekhi Wingo.
Detroit will be looking for bounce-back years from McNeill and Onwuzurike, and will continue to hope that Williams builds off his rookie campaign. Lastly, Wingo is a wildcard in this entire mix as he didn’t play much this season. But he gave Lions fans something to look forward to with his play in Week 18.
All in all, the Lions DT room is not in bad shape heading into 2026. Not having Reader a part of that room is a tough pill to swallow, but the Lions have other priorities and needs that they must address.