Dj Reader

Career StatsF

Year	Team	GP	Sacks	Tkl	TFL
Career		138	12.5	328	36
2025		17	0.0	28	2
2024		15	3.0	23	3.5
2023		14

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

DJ Reader's veteran minimum deal with the Detroit Lions earns an A- CVI and represents an absolute steal for a franchise building championship-caliber depth. While Reader profiles as a depth piece at this stage of his career, landing a proven run-stuffer with extensive playoff experience for just $0.8M AAV is exceptional value in today's market, where even replacement-level defensive tackles command $2-3M annually. The 30-year-old veteran brings immediate insurance behind Alim McNeill and provides the Lions with a plug-and-play option who can anchor the interior on running downs without any meaningful salary cap commitment. This low-risk, high-reward signing exemplifies smart roster construction — Detroit gets a reliable rotational piece who has started 16 games as recently as 2022, all while preserving flexibility to allocate resources elsewhere. Reader's presence gives the Lions legitimate three-down versatility in their defensive front, making this deal a clear win for a team serious about making a deep playoff run.

Performance Analysis

DJ Reader earns an F for the Lions at defensive tackle, a grade driven by a devastating injury that has robbed him of his ability to contribute. Reader was one of the best run-stuffing nose tackles in the NFL before his injury, a player who could single-handedly shut down the inside run game. Detroit signed him expecting a dominant interior force, and the injury prevented any of that from materializing. The Lions defense has been elite, but it has been without one of the players they expected to be a centerpiece. Reader's absence has been felt, even on a defense loaded with talent.