The Detroit Lions are coming off one of the best seasons in franchise history. They want to continue that trend in 2024. So far, GM Brad Holmes has been relatively quiet in free agency, opting for smaller moves to fill roster holes. He made his first big splash signing on Thursday. Former Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle DJ Reader has agreed to a two-year deal with the team.
Detroit Lions Sign DT DJ Reader
Veteran DT D.J. Reader has agreed to terms with the #Lions on a two-year deal, sources tell me, @RapSheet and @MikeGarafolo.
Another big addition (this time literally) for the Detroit defense. pic.twitter.com/HsM7Wy8oKi
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 14, 2024
NFL insider Tom Pelissero was the first to break the news. It is a two-year deal for the 6-foot-3, 335-pound defensive tackle out of Clemson. An injury kept Reader from commanding top dollar in free agency. On December 16th, he suffered a serious quad injury, which cost him the last three games. Many teams stayed away from him in free agency because of it, but the Detroit Lions were willing to take a chance.
It is a good gamble for the Detroit Lions. They desperately need help on the defensive line. Aidan Hutchinson looks like he will be one of the top edge rushers in the NFL, but he needs some help. Throughout the 2023 season, the Lions had trouble finding their defensive tackle rotation. Reader immediately comes in as the top defensive tackle on the roster.
Detroit Lions: A Sneaky Good Offseason
Many fans were left scratching their heads when the Detroit Lions were quiet on the first few days of free agency. However, they have made some savvy moves since then. Getting cornerback Carlton Davis from the Buccaneers builds cornerback depth. They also added Marcus Davenport to help their edge rush. On the offensive line, Dan Skipper and Graham Glasgow were re-signed to help continue the dominance of that unit.
Detroit Lions fans were skeptical of the moves, but Brad Holmes has to be given the benefit of the doubt. Adding Reader is another great move for this franchise as they try to capture their first Super Bowl. If they can have another great draft, this team could come in as one of the Super Bowl favorites.
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Matt Brown has been following sports since he was a kid. While football is his primary focus, Matt can talk about any sport anytime. He is a banker in Wisconsin and hosts two podcasts, Beers and Ears & Discontinued on Display.
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