Cincinnati Bengals – D.J. Reader
As you start to look at some of the losses the Houston Texans suffered this offseason (DeAndre Hopkins and D.J. Reader) you begin to wonder how the best they could do to replenish their roster in free agency was Randall Cobb. Then, it’s hard not to think that Bill O’Brien may have completely demolished the Texans’ chances at winning the AFC South.
That’s enough about the Texans, the Bengals went out into free agency and made some good additions to their defense. Trae Waynes and D.J. Reader were the biggest signings for the Bengals this offseason, and I think that the latter is by far the single biggest.
Reader is about to turn 26 years old which means he is moving right into the middle of his prime. He has been a solid run defender for the past 4 seasons in Houston, and the Bengals now have him locked up throughout the rest of his prime. The Bengals signed D.J. Reader to a 4 year $53 million contract.
D.J. Reader is 6’3 and about 320 lbs, at least he is now anyways. He has spent the offseason working on dropping 20 lbs according to Geoff Hobson, senior writer for the Cincinnati Bengals.
"Defensive line coach Nick Eason, a veteran of 121 NFL games, says the lower weight won’t bother Reader at all inside. He looks at Reader’s 6-3 frame and sees an ascending player doing whatever he can to get better. “You carry around a 20-pound weight on your back and then take it off and see how much of a difference it is,” Eason said. “He’s not a small guy. He’s still big. He could lose 20 more pounds and still be bigger than most everybody. I think he’s just doing what he can to be a better player and being more elusive and quicker.” via Geoff Hobson, Bengals Official Website"