According to the NFL Network, the Detroit Lions will host defensive tackle D.J. Reader on a free agent visit this week.
Reader is regarded as one of the best nose tackles in the league. Reader, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 335 pounds, has eight years of experience and has started 96 games for Houston and Cincinnati. He’s an excellent run stuffer who has also had an impact on the pass game, piling up at least 30 pressures in three consecutive seasons. Last year, Pro Football Focus ranked him as the No. 11 interior defender overall.
Last season, the Lions’ interior defensive line produced solid results, anchored by a breakout performance from Alim McNeill, who slimmed down in the offseason and recorded a career-high 5.5 sacks. Detroit finished third against the run overall.
However, with Benito Jones and Tyson Alualu due to become free agents, McNeill is the only proven talent under contract at the position next season. Levi Onwuzurike, Brodric Martin, and Chris Smith are also signed through 2024.
The Reader visit raises worries about the future of Martin, another massive defensive tackle selected in the third round of last year’s draft. He only played 28 defensive snaps in his first season, but coaches say they are optimistic about his potential.
