D.J. Reader | Houston Texans | Age: 25
Reader is built more like a nose tackle, but he offers upside as a pass rusher as well. In the Colts’ one-gap front, he would help against the run while also giving the defense a boost by collapsing the top of the pocket. Reader is one of the more underrated free agents the Colts should pursue.
>>>D.J. Reader free agency profile<<<
Reader may have had only 2.5 sacks in 2019, but he also recorded 13 quarterback hits. Per Pro Football Focus, he had 36 pressures and 35 defensive stops. His size helps him plug gaps against the run while his quickness and burst would make him an underrated pass rusher in the middle of the defensive line.
Reader is likely to get a nice pay day on the market, but the Colts shouldn’t be afraid to pay him around the $12–14 million mark in terms of average annual salary. He is probably the top defensive tackle the Colts should pursue.