Looking at Pros and Cons of DJ Reader as a trade target

[Bobhaze]

I know there has been a lot of talk this off-season about acquiring burly nose tackle DJ Reader in a potential trade. I wouldn’t mind seeing that if the price was right because he would certainly be an upgrade from what we currently have. His skill set is different from Osa Odighizhua so he might be a big help inside against the run.

BUT…Anyone thinking Reader is an instant plug and play that makes all our run defense problems go away is looking at him with blue fan glasses.

Here is a short bio and stat look at DJ Reader:

• He will be 31 at beginning of the season.
• Reader has played for 3 NFL teams in his 10 seasons. Houston (drafted him in 5th round in 2016), Cincy and now Det.
• He has been a starter in all but one season and has been a decent nose tackle that can clog the middle most of the time for all three teams he’s played for.
• His best season was 2019 when he was a second team All Pro in Houston.
• He has been mostly healthy but has had two injuries of note in the last 5 seasons.
  • In 2020 he suffered a serious quad injury in game 5 that placed him on IR for remainder of the season with the bengals, missing 11 games.
  • In 2022, he suffered a knee injury that wasn’t serious enough to cost him the season, but he missed 6 games.
• Stat wise he’s slightly better than average.
  • In 9 seasons he has 12.5 sacks.
  • In his career he has 27 TFLs, about 3 per season.
  • His PFF scores for his career place him about 65 which is above average, although interestingly his run defense score is 61.

So here are the pros and cons as I see it:
PROS

• His stats show him to be a mostly durable slightly above average DI.
• He will be 31 this season. Not young, but not too old.
• Has above average PFF scores for his career.
• Is an above average pass rusher for an inside guy.
• Other than Odighizhua, he’s better than any DTs we have.

CONS

• He has missed 17 games in the last 5 years.
• He is good not great against the run.
• His TFL numbers have diminished as he ages.
• He alone cannot fix the run stop woes we’ve had.
• Contract has been a little too high in Det which is why they seem interested in moving on.

If the price is right, he is probably a decent option. Although he cannot be considered a long term solution. Seems like this FO might have already made a move on him if they were serious.

 

[rambo2]

I know there has been a lot of talk this off-season about acquiring burly nose tackle DJ Reade in a potential trade. I wouldn’t mind seeing that if the price was right because he would certainly be an upgrade from what we currently have. His skill set is different from Osa Odighizhua so he might be a big help inside against the run.

BUT…Anyone thinking Reader is an instant plug and play that makes all our run defense problems go away is looking at him with blue fan glasses.

Here is a short bio and stat look at DJ Reader:

• He will be 31 at beginning of the season.
• Reader has played for 3 NFL teams in his 10 seasons. Houston (drafted him in 5th round in 2016), Cincy and now Det.
• He has been a starter in all but one season and has been a decent nose tackle that can clog the middle most of the time for all three teams he’s played for.
• His best season was 2019 when he was a second team All Pro in Houston.
• He has been mostly healthy but has had two injuries of note in the last 5 seasons.
  • In 2020 he suffered a serious quad injury in game 5 that placed him on IR for remainder of the season with the bengals, missing 11 games.
  • In 2022, he suffered a knee injury that wasn’t serious enough to cost him the season, but he missed 6 games.
• Stat wise he’s slightly better than average.
  • In 9 seasons he has 12.5 sacks.
  • In his career he has 27 TFLs, about 3 per season.
  • His PFF scores for his career place him about 65 which is above average, although interestingly his run defense score is 61.

So here are the pros and cons as I see it:
PROS

• His stats show him to be a mostly durable slightly above average DI.
• He will be 31 this season. Not young, but not too old.
• Has above average PFF scores for his career.
• Is an above average pass rusher for an inside guy.
• Other than Odighizhua, he’s better than any DTs we have.

CONS

• He has missed 17 games in the last 5 years.
• He is good not great against the run.
• His TFL numbers have diminished as he ages.
• He alone cannot fix the run stop woes we’ve had.
• Contract has been a little too high in Det which is why they seem interested in moving on.

If the price is right, he is probably a decent option. Although he cannot be considered a long term solution. Seems like this FO might have already made a move on him if they were serious.

June 1st, now just hours away.

 

[DallasEast]

If the trade happens, it would be great if the recent 1-tech acquisitions can excel behind Reader. That would make for an excellent player rotation. Get fresh bodies in all game long. Shut down the interior run game. Oh, to wish for the possibilities...

...and not have the Wicked Witch of the West Jerry Jones spoil my dreams. Again. For the umpteenth time.

 

[fivetwos]

I know there has been a lot of talk this off-season about acquiring burly nose tackle DJ Reade in a potential trade. I wouldn’t mind seeing that if the price was right because he would certainly be an upgrade from what we currently have. His skill set is different from Osa Odighizhua so he might be a big help inside against the run.

BUT…Anyone thinking Reader is an instant plug and play that makes all our run defense problems go away is looking at him with blue fan glasses.

Here is a short bio and stat look at DJ Reader:

• He will be 31 at beginning of the season.
• Reader has played for 3 NFL teams in his 10 seasons. Houston (drafted him in 5th round in 2016), Cincy and now Det.
• He has been a starter in all but one season and has been a decent nose tackle that can clog the middle most of the time for all three teams he’s played for.
• His best season was 2019 when he was a second team All Pro in Houston.
• He has been mostly healthy but has had two injuries of note in the last 5 seasons.
  • In 2020 he suffered a serious quad injury in game 5 that placed him on IR for remainder of the season with the bengals, missing 11 games.
  • In 2022, he suffered a knee injury that wasn’t serious enough to cost him the season, but he missed 6 games.
• Stat wise he’s slightly better than average.
  • In 9 seasons he has 12.5 sacks.
  • In his career he has 27 TFLs, about 3 per season.
  • His PFF scores for his career place him about 65 which is above average, although interestingly his run defense score is 61.

So here are the pros and cons as I see it:
PROS

• His stats show him to be a mostly durable slightly above average DI.
• He will be 31 this season. Not young, but not too old.
• Has above average PFF scores for his career.
• Is an above average pass rusher for an inside guy.
• Other than Odighizhua, he’s better than any DTs we have.

CONS

• He has missed 17 games in the last 5 years.
• He is good not great against the run.
• His TFL numbers have diminished as he ages.
• He alone cannot fix the run stop woes we’ve had.
• Contract has been a little too high in Det which is why they seem interested in moving on.

If the price is right, he is probably a decent option. Although he cannot be considered a long term solution. Seems like this FO might have already made a move on him if they were serious.

Didn’t know he had issues against the run.

If that’s the case he isn’t what’s needed.

 

[speedkilz88]

FWIW
PFF's Top DTs

22. D.J. READER, DETROIT LIONS
Reader is known for being a boulder in the middle of a defensive front. He garnered PFF run-defense grades above 70.0 for three straight seasons prior to 2024. But in his first year in Detroit, his low numbers mirrored those of his first season in Cincinnati four seasons ago. Perhaps a second year in the system is all he needs to get back to form.

 

[gtb1943]

FWIW
PFF's Top DTs

22. D.J. READER, DETROIT LIONS
Reader is known for being a boulder in the middle of a defensive front. He garnered PFF run-defense grades above 70.0 for three straight seasons prior to 2024. But in his first year in Detroit, his low numbers mirrored those of his first season in Cincinnati four seasons ago. Perhaps a second year in the system is all he needs to get back to form.

we got pass rush out the yang
it is run D that we need
if he can do that and is not too expensive then YES do it

 

[JohnsKey19]

So please explain why a legit Super Bowl contending team in Detroit is going to trade him? Im not saying they arent but unless im missing something, it doesn't make sense on their end.

 

[rambo2]

So please explain why a legit Super Bowl contending team in Detroit is going to trade him? Im not saying they arent but unless im missing something, it doesn't make sense on their end.

They drafted dtackle in 1st round.

 

[Rockport]

I know there has been a lot of talk this off-season about acquiring burly nose tackle DJ Reade in a potential trade. I wouldn’t mind seeing that if the price was right because he would certainly be an upgrade from what we currently have. His skill set is different from Osa Odighizhua so he might be a big help inside against the run.

BUT…Anyone thinking Reader is an instant plug and play that makes all our run defense problems go away is looking at him with blue fan glasses.

Here is a short bio and stat look at DJ Reader:

• He will be 31 at beginning of the season.
• Reader has played for 3 NFL teams in his 10 seasons. Houston (drafted him in 5th round in 2016), Cincy and now Det.
• He has been a starter in all but one season and has been a decent nose tackle that can clog the middle most of the time for all three teams he’s played for.
• His best season was 2019 when he was a second team All Pro in Houston.
• He has been mostly healthy but has had two injuries of note in the last 5 seasons.
  • In 2020 he suffered a serious quad injury in game 5 that placed him on IR for remainder of the season with the bengals, missing 11 games.
  • In 2022, he suffered a knee injury that wasn’t serious enough to cost him the season, but he missed 6 games.
• Stat wise he’s slightly better than average.
  • In 9 seasons he has 12.5 sacks.
  • In his career he has 27 TFLs, about 3 per season.
  • His PFF scores for his career place him about 65 which is above average, although interestingly his run defense score is 61.

So here are the pros and cons as I see it:
PROS

• His stats show him to be a mostly durable slightly above average DI.
• He will be 31 this season. Not young, but not too old.
• Has above average PFF scores for his career.
• Is an above average pass rusher for an inside guy.
• Other than Odighizhua, he’s better than any DTs we have.

CONS

• He has missed 17 games in the last 5 years.
• He is good not great against the run.
• His TFL numbers have diminished as he ages.
• He alone cannot fix the run stop woes we’ve had.
• Contract has been a little too high in Det which is why they seem interested in moving on.

If the price is right, he is probably a decent option. Although he cannot be considered a long term solution. Seems like this FO might have already made a move on him if they were serious.

First I’ve heard of Cowboys interest in Reader.

 

[Bobhaze]

So please explain why a legit Super Bowl contending team in Detroit is going to trade him? Im not saying they arent but unless im missing something, it doesn't make sense on their end.

My take is they are trying to save $$ and with a June 1 cut they can make considerable savings on cap space. They are also probably trying to get younger.

I believe they also have a younger #1 draft pick at DT they want to give a lot of reps to. Reader is a decent DT - not a star.

 

[Ranching]

I know there has been a lot of talk this off-season about acquiring burly nose tackle DJ Reade in a potential trade. I wouldn’t mind seeing that if the price was right because he would certainly be an upgrade from what we currently have. His skill set is different from Osa Odighizhua so he might be a big help inside against the run.

BUT…Anyone thinking Reader is an instant plug and play that makes all our run defense problems go away is looking at him with blue fan glasses.

Here is a short bio and stat look at DJ Reader:

• He will be 31 at beginning of the season.
• Reader has played for 3 NFL teams in his 10 seasons. Houston (drafted him in 5th round in 2016), Cincy and now Det.
• He has been a starter in all but one season and has been a decent nose tackle that can clog the middle most of the time for all three teams he’s played for.
• His best season was 2019 when he was a second team All Pro in Houston.
• He has been mostly healthy but has had two injuries of note in the last 5 seasons.
  • In 2020 he suffered a serious quad injury in game 5 that placed him on IR for remainder of the season with the bengals, missing 11 games.
  • In 2022, he suffered a knee injury that wasn’t serious enough to cost him the season, but he missed 6 games.
• Stat wise he’s slightly better than average.
  • In 9 seasons he has 12.5 sacks.
  • In his career he has 27 TFLs, about 3 per season.
  • His PFF scores for his career place him about 65 which is above average, although interestingly his run defense score is 61.

So here are the pros and cons as I see it:
PROS

• His stats show him to be a mostly durable slightly above average DI.
• He will be 31 this season. Not young, but not too old.
• Has above average PFF scores for his career.
• Is an above average pass rusher for an inside guy.
• Other than Odighizhua, he’s better than any DTs we have.

CONS

• He has missed 17 games in the last 5 years.
• He is good not great against the run.
• His TFL numbers have diminished as he ages.
• He alone cannot fix the run stop woes we’ve had.
• Contract has been a little too high in Det which is why they seem interested in moving on.

If the price is right, he is probably a decent option. Although he cannot be considered a long term solution. Seems like this FO might have already made a move on him if they were serious.

NG that's not great against the run? Lol....a stud NG should be able to control 2 gaps, if he can't do that...pass. Aging, not great at what is already a weakness, and would cost us a draft pick. Sure bring him in, he'll fit right in, the haters need one more player to sacrifice to the Homer gods! Lol

 

[Ranching]

we got pass rush out the yang

They make a pill for that..

 

[Spottswoode]

So please explain why a legit Super Bowl contending team in Detroit is going to trade him? Im not saying they arent but unless im missing something, it doesn't make sense on their end.

I don’t think he will be traded with McNeil potentially out until Thanksgiving. Williams (1st rd pick) played the 3T his senior year and I think there is a good chance he rotates there next to Reader until McNeil returns.

IMO, Reader is still considered a core rotation piece on their DL and is the primary veteran with multiple question marks behind him. I think they play out the year with Reader and let him walk next year with Williams moving to his spot next to McNeil.

 

[thunderpimp91]

I don’t think he will be traded with McNeil potentially out until Thanksgiving. Williams (1st rd pick) played the 3T his senior year and I think there is a good chance he rotates there next to Reader until McNeil returns.

IMO, Reader is still considered a core rotation piece on their DL and is the primary veteran with multiple question marks behind him. I think they play out the year with Reader and let him walk next year with Williams moving to his spot next to McNeil.

Yeah I'm big on the Reader idea, but the longer hes a Lion the more it feels like hes going to remain a Lion. If it doesnt happen shortly after June 1st I doubt it happens at all.

 

[Jarntt]

I know there has been a lot of talk this off-season about acquiring burly nose tackle DJ Reade in a potential trade. I wouldn’t mind seeing that if the price was right because he would certainly be an upgrade from what we currently have. His skill set is different from Osa Odighizhua so he might be a big help inside against the run.

BUT…Anyone thinking Reader is an instant plug and play that makes all our run defense problems go away is looking at him with blue fan glasses.

Here is a short bio and stat look at DJ Reader:

• He will be 31 at beginning of the season.
• Reader has played for 3 NFL teams in his 10 seasons. Houston (drafted him in 5th round in 2016), Cincy and now Det.
• He has been a starter in all but one season and has been a decent nose tackle that can clog the middle most of the time for all three teams he’s played for.
• His best season was 2019 when he was a second team All Pro in Houston.
• He has been mostly healthy but has had two injuries of note in the last 5 seasons.
  • In 2020 he suffered a serious quad injury in game 5 that placed him on IR for remainder of the season with the bengals, missing 11 games.
  • In 2022, he suffered a knee injury that wasn’t serious enough to cost him the season, but he missed 6 games.
• Stat wise he’s slightly better than average.
  • In 9 seasons he has 12.5 sacks.
  • In his career he has 27 TFLs, about 3 per season.
  • His PFF scores for his career place him about 65 which is above average, although interestingly his run defense score is 61.

So here are the pros and cons as I see it:
PROS

• His stats show him to be a mostly durable slightly above average DI.
• He will be 31 this season. Not young, but not too old.
• Has above average PFF scores for his career.
• Is an above average pass rusher for an inside guy.
• Other than Odighizhua, he’s better than any DTs we have.

CONS

• He has missed 17 games in the last 5 years.
• He is good not great against the run.
• His TFL numbers have diminished as he ages.
• He alone cannot fix the run stop woes we’ve had.
• Contract has been a little too high in Det which is why they seem interested in moving on.

If the price is right, he is probably a decent option. Although he cannot be considered a long term solution. Seems like this FO might have already made a move on him if they were serious.

• Stat wise he’s slightly better than average.
  
  • In 9 seasons he has 12.5 sacks.
  • In his career he has 27 TFLs, about 3 per season.
  • His PFF scores for his career place him about 65 which is above average, although interestingly his run defense score is 61.

I always love your stuff but I think you are off base here. The need isn't a NT that provides stats. We have guys to play there on passing downs that will do that. The need is an early down guy to clog the middle and help in the run game and keep LBers cleaner. As an example his stats you said his best season was 2019 when he was a 2nd team All Pro. his stats that year:
2019: 2.5 Sacks; 6 TFLs; 52 tackles on 684 snaps

Is that all that different from last year if you want to just quote stats?

2024: 3 Sacks; 4 TFLs; 23 tackles on 568 snaps. 3 sacks is his career high and TFLs about the same per snap and 4 was his 3rd most ever.

NT isn't a "stat position". I am not looking for a penetrating sack guy or even a guy to get a bunch of TFLs for this team. Plus you need to look at the defense he played in each year. 2019 was a 3-4 and in Houston the played both NT and DE in their 3-4 and was also on the same DL as JJ Watt which can't hurt. Last year Glenn was a little more attacking so that could explain his career high sacks in less snaps. He is also now going to be 31 years old so at that size he will slow down a little, but that is the only reason you may get him and get him for a reasonable price. Lastly, even if you want to say he is "stat wise slightly better than average", slightly better than average would be an absolutely massive upgrade for us. We are currently at "toilet bowl level" NT play.

Found this from 2019 with regards to playing more than just NT:



"finally popped on some DJ Reader tape last night and will now be pounding the table for him in Denver. He's not just a NT. Saw him line up at 1, 2i, 3, 4i, & 5-tech."

 

[Cowboyny]

I know there has been a lot of talk this off-season about acquiring burly nose tackle DJ Reade in a potential trade. I wouldn’t mind seeing that if the price was right because he would certainly be an upgrade from what we currently have. His skill set is different from Osa Odighizhua so he might be a big help inside against the run.

BUT…Anyone thinking Reader is an instant plug and play that makes all our run defense problems go away is looking at him with blue fan glasses.

Here is a short bio and stat look at DJ Reader:

• He will be 31 at beginning of the season.
• Reader has played for 3 NFL teams in his 10 seasons. Houston (drafted him in 5th round in 2016), Cincy and now Det.
• He has been a starter in all but one season and has been a decent nose tackle that can clog the middle most of the time for all three teams he’s played for.
• His best season was 2019 when he was a second team All Pro in Houston.
• He has been mostly healthy but has had two injuries of note in the last 5 seasons.
  • In 2020 he suffered a serious quad injury in game 5 that placed him on IR for remainder of the season with the bengals, missing 11 games.
  • In 2022, he suffered a knee injury that wasn’t serious enough to cost him the season, but he missed 6 games.
• Stat wise he’s slightly better than average.
  • In 9 seasons he has 12.5 sacks.
  • In his career he has 27 TFLs, about 3 per season.
  • His PFF scores for his career place him about 65 which is above average, although interestingly his run defense score is 61.

So here are the pros and cons as I see it:
PROS

• His stats show him to be a mostly durable slightly above average DI.
• He will be 31 this season. Not young, but not too old.
• Has above average PFF scores for his career.
• Is an above average pass rusher for an inside guy.
• Other than Odighizhua, he’s better than any DTs we have.

CONS

• He has missed 17 games in the last 5 years.
• He is good not great against the run.
• His TFL numbers have diminished as he ages.
• He alone cannot fix the run stop woes we’ve had.
• Contract has been a little too high in Det which is why they seem interested in moving on.

If the price is right, he is probably a decent option. Although he cannot be considered a long term solution. Seems like this FO might have already made a move on him if they were serious.

Reader would help, but takes more then him to fix our run defense

 

[Cowboyny]

FWIW
PFF's Top DTs

22. D.J. READER, DETROIT LIONS
Reader is known for being a boulder in the middle of a defensive front. He garnered PFF run-defense grades above 70.0 for three straight seasons prior to 2024. But in his first year in Detroit, his low numbers mirrored those of his first season in Cincinnati four seasons ago. Perhaps a second year in the system is all he needs to get back to form.

Reader also was coming off of a major injury last season

 

[75boyz]

This reminds me of that Jalen Carter to Odiggy comparison thread that someone thought that the stats proved they were similar players.

And THEN you watched em both play and saw there was a HUGE talent disparity.
It's the same with Mazi and Reader here.

There are the stats and then there's watching them play.
If you watch Mazi and Reader both play you will see he's a massive upgrade over Mazi.
Night and Day like extreme.

If not too expensive a contract or too high a pick it's a no brainer.

Just sayin.

 

[fivetwos]

I dunno. Looks like at least one of those 7th rounders is going to not only need to pan out, but do so immediately.

No idea why they continue to put themselves…and the rest of us…in that position.

Or is the grand plan to call the next Hankins off the couch on August 25th?

 

[speedkilz88]

• Stat wise he’s slightly better than average.
  
  • In 9 seasons he has 12.5 sacks.
  • In his career he has 27 TFLs, about 3 per season.
  • His PFF scores for his career place him about 65 which is above average, although interestingly his run defense score is 61.

I always love your stuff but I think you are off base here. The need isn't a NT that provides stats. We have guys to play there on passing downs that will do that. The need is an early down guy to clog the middle and help in the run game and keep LBers cleaner. As an example his stats you said his best season was 2019 when he was a 2nd team All Pro. his stats that year:
2019: 2.5 Sacks; 6 TFLs; 52 tackles on 684 snaps

Is that all that different from last year if you want to just quote stats?

2024: 3 Sacks; 4 TFLs; 23 tackles on 568 snaps. 3 sacks is his career high and TFLs about the same per snap and 4 was his 3rd most ever.

NT isn't a "stat position". I am not looking for a penetrating sack guy or even a guy to get a bunch of TFLs for this team. Plus you need to look at the defense he played in each year. 2019 was a 3-4 and in Houston the played both NT and DE in their 3-4 and was also on the same DL as JJ Watt which can't hurt. Last year Glenn was a little more attacking so that could explain his career high sacks in less snaps. He is also now going to be 31 years old so at that size he will slow down a little, but that is the only reason you may get him and get him for a reasonable price. Lastly, even if you want to say he is "stat wise slightly better than average", slightly better than average would be an absolutely massive upgrade for us. We are currently at "toilet bowl level" NT play.

Found this from 2019 with regards to playing more than just NT:



"finally popped on some DJ Reader tape last night and will now be pounding the table for him in Denver. He's not just a NT. Saw him line up at 1, 2i, 3, 4i, & 5-tech."

To add to this. Mazi in 2024: 1sk, 41 tackles, 4 TFLs on 526 snaps.