Pro Football Focus is at it again, and this time, they have determined who the most improved player was on the 2019 Houston Texans.
According to author Ben Linsey, after tabulating the football scouting firm’s data, the most improved player was defensive tackle D.J. Reader. The former 2016 fifth-round pick’s 52 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and six tackles for loss were adequate enough to qualify Reader for the Texans’ most improved player.
I wrote about Reader as part of the loaded interior defender free agent class earlier this week, and his stellar play this season is a big reason why he is projected to earn a four-year, $54million contract. In 2017 and 2018, Reader graded out above the 75.0 mark, but he elevated that to an overall grade of 85.5 in 2019 that ranked seventh among qualifying interior defenders. Career-high marks in pass-rushing grade (72.5), total pressures (35) and pressure rate (10.7%) helped drive that improvement, along with a career-best season in run defense with a grade of 85.1 against the run. At just 25 years old, Reader has one of the best combinations of reliability and upside among the interior defender options on the market this offseason.
The Texans are looking for a team-friendly deal with Reader. Houston was able to come to terms with nose tackle Brandon Dunn on a contract extension earlier in the week.
The Texans have until March 18 at 3:00 p.m. Central Time to get a deal done with Reader before he becomes an unrestricted free agent with the start of the new league year. If the Texans bungle a deal to keep Reader around, then it means Houston will have yet another void to fill in free agency and the draft. It wouldn’t exactly be ideal given the decisions coach and general manager Bill O’Brien has to make at running back, cornerback, receiver, and edge rusher — and not exactly in that order.