On Thursday, the Baltimore Ravens had a visit with veteran nose tackle D.J. Reader. They’ve been working tirelessly to improve the trenches on both the offensive and defensive fronts, and a potential addition of Reader could cement a very strong defensive line in 2026.
The renovations to improve that defensive line were desperately needed. They just could not afford to put up another disastrous year, where they find limited wins against opposing offensive lines. As a result, there will be a few contributors from last year’s roster who could find themselves out of a job.
Following the news of the Reader’s visit, it’s becoming crystal clear that the Ravens aren’t fully bought in with the current state of their interior defensive front. Particularly, if they were to ink a deal with Reader, that would more than likely kick Broderick Washington to the curb.
Baltimore Ravens’ D.J. Reader news seems to seal the fate of Broderick Washington
Washington was already assumed to have one foot out the door in Baltimore. Dating back to last season, he’s been mentioned as a prime cap casualty. That speculation has yet to come to fruition, but they can free up a good chunk of cap space by cutting him. In total, they’d see $4.01 million in cap savings and $1.85 million in dead cap for 2026. It’d be kind of foolish to pass that up.
The interest in Reader signals that Washington’s story as a Raven is nearing its end. The defensive line room is already crowded. Along with Washington, Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, John Jenkins, Aeneas Peebles, and CJ Okoye are fighting for snaps. Now, Peebles and Okoye aren’t guaranteed reps, especially with a new coaching staff, but they saw a more upward trend in 2025 than Washington did. They’re also extremely cheap, while Washington’s contract carries some weight.
Regardless of Washington’s contract, he's been a below-average player since signing an extension in 2023. He was once seen as an up-and-coming player, but it seemed that inking that extension zapped him of the talent fans once saw. There’s really no reason that he should take any reps away from Madubuike, Jones, and Jenkins, and with Reader being a constant starter throughout his career, Washington could be nearing a reality where he’s either cut or a healthy scratch on gamedays next year.
Ultimately, it feels like an easy decision to part ways with Washington. With each passing day, he seems to be running out of space with the Ravens. If the interest in Reader or another defensive lineman this offseason is serious, Washington may have to start looking for a new home. It was a fun ride, but the signs are pointing toward a separation.