Since their quick start to free agency, it’s been relatively quiet for the Baltimore Ravens and the rest of the NFL. There’s a good deal of talent still available, but the market has hit a bit of a lull. As of Thursday, though, it looks like the Ravens could be moving in on their next signing.
Baltimore recently held a visit with D.J. Reader. Reader is a nose tackle who’s spent 10 seasons in the league, most recently with the Detroit Lions. At 31 years old, he remains a consistent starter on the defensive line, logging 128 starts.
The Ravens made it clear they’ll be looking to make a dramatic overhaul in the trenches this offseason. They’ve done that by signing John Simpson on the offensive side and Trey Hendrickson on the defensive side. Reader could be next up in that offseason plan.
Baltimore Ravens host D.J. Reader for a visit
Reader would slot in as the last rotational piece on the defensive front if signed. Off the edge, it’d be Hendrickson, Mike Green, and Tavius Robinson, and along the interior, it’d be Reader, Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, and John Jenkins.
It’d certainly be a crowded interior with Broderick Washington, CJ Okoye, and Aeneas Peebles providing potential as backups, but Reader would have the immediate advantage over all of those guys. He’s been the main starter at nose tackle everywhere he’s gone, so he'll demand playing time. And he’s a player that’s worth taking a one-year flier on. It could be fun reuniting him with former Cincinnati Bengals teammate Trey Hendrickson.
Reader doesn’t bring much as a pass rush; his career-high in sacks is three. However, he did have a 72.6 pass-rush grade, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF) in 2025. Regardless of that limited production, it’s his play as a run defender that has made him such a stable contributor across his career.
While Reader’s 61.7 PFF run defense grade doesn’t look outstanding, he’s an effortless run defender. His 6-foot-3, 330-pound frame acts as an easy roadblock in the middle and he eats up blocks to free up opportunities for other players on the defensive line. With guys like Madubuike and Jones residing in that area in Charm City, Reader could help those guys take off and feast.
On paper, it seems that Reader would be a needless addition. Â The Ravens already have that type of player in John Jenkins, who they extended ahead of Week 18 last season. But you can never have too much of a good thing, and with Reader expected to demand just a cheap $3.9 million salary, per Spotrac, it may be worth it to sign the veteran.