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

[xwalker]

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.

Con: It appears to be a made up story by some pseudo media type that keeps getting repeated.

 

[Flamma]

He wouldn't be the only recent 1 year rental we currently have on the team!

I've said enough about the other. But this one is a sure bet.

 

[conner01]

The obsession with pass rushing DTs goes back to what Marinelli wanted, same as when Parcells had a long spiel over why he took backup TE Fasano in the 2nd round when they already had Witten.

Of all the philosophies to steal from former employees.

Very few DT’s really do both. Those guys don’t hit FA. But you rotate them so much that you can get away with a guy that’s just ok at one and goid at the ither

 

[fivetwos]

Very few DT’s really do both. Those guys don’t hit FA. But you rotate them so much that you can get away with a guy that’s just ok at one and goid at the ither

True, which is why it would seem to make sense to be at least four deep and rotate situationally.

It just sucks that they’ve had issues at that spot in the biggest of spots many times yet still don’t seem to want to fix it…or aren’t capable.

I’m thinking that 20m a year should be reserved for those who are able to do both. I’d have rather had 2/3 guys for the same money….but let’s see Osa miraculously morph into Aaron Donald similar to how Lawrence suddenly became a sack guy when given 100 million. Jerry logic.

 

[Acceptablename]

I don't get the feeling that Dallas has shown any interest.

 

[big dog cowboy]

• 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."

GREAT post!

 

[conner01]

True, which is why it would seem to make sense to be at least four deep and rotate situationally.

It just sucks that they’ve had issues at that spot in the biggest of spots many times yet still don’t seem to want to fix it…or aren’t capable.

I’m thinking that 20m a year should be reserved for those who are able to do both. I’d have rather had 2/3 guys for the same money….but let’s see Osa miraculously morph into Aaron Donald similar to how Lawrence suddenly became a sack guy when given 100 million. Jerry logic.

He’s not Donald but he was second in the league at pressures which is pretty dang good. Fans underrate his impact