The Detroit Lions made a significant move to bolster their run defense by signing veteran defensive tackle DJ Reader on Thursday.
Reader joins the Lions on a two-year contract valued at up to $27.5 million, including $9.5 million in guarantees, according to two sources familiar with the deal who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
This offseason, general manager Brad Holmes, whose contract was extended along with coach Dan Campbell’s earlier in the day, has been proactive in enhancing the team’s roster to build on last season’s success.
In addition to Reader, the Lions have made several other acquisitions, including cornerback Carlton Davis from Tampa Bay, edge rusher Marcus Davenport, and cornerback Amik Robertson. They have also retained key players like guard Graham Glasgow, special teams standout Jalen Reeves-Maybin, and cornerbacks Emmanuel Moseley and Khalil Dorsey.
Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 335 pounds, Reader brings both size and playoff experience to the Lions’ defensive front. He has appeared in 12 postseason games, starting all of them, for the Cincinnati Bengals and Houston Texans over his eight-year career.
With 97 starts in 105 games, Reader has amassed 277 tackles and 9 1/2 sacks. Originally drafted by the New England Patriots out of Clemson in 2016, Reader spent four seasons with the Texans before joining the Bengals as a free agent in 2020.
Last season, Reader recorded 34 tackles and one sack in 14 games before suffering a season-ending leg injury in December.
