Less than a year ago, the Detroit Lions signed defensive tackle DJ Reader to a two-year, $22 million contract, hoping he would recover from the torn quad he suffered during his final season with the Cincinnati Bengals. Now, the Lions may soon face the tough decision of cutting Reader.
While DJ Reader didn’t have a “bad” 2024 season with the Lions, he didn’t meet expectations, which puts his future with the team at risk, making him a potential cap casualty. However, the Lions still need to add depth to their defensive line in the offseason, so cutting Reader could be counterproductive.
If the Lions decide to release Reader, it will largely depend on how much cap space they can free up. Reader is set to receive a $4 million roster bonus next week, meaning they could make the decision to cut him in the coming days. If they do, they would absorb $4,972,000 in dead money but save $7,961,000 in cap space.
We should know soon whether the Lions plan to part ways with DJ Reader. My instinct tells me he’ll stay for the 2025 season, as the Lions need talent on the defensive line. However, if general manager Brad Holmes believes the $7,961,000 in cap space could be better used to improve the position, Reader may have played his final snap in Detroit.