The Tennessee Titans might be looking to add one of the best defensive linemen available this offseason in the Houston Texans’ D.J. Reader.
According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the Texans aren’t expected to retain Reader because of how much he’ll cost, and the Titans are one of the teams interested in bringing him in.
“The Denver Broncos, Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills are among the teams interested in Reader, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly. Barring a sudden change in strategy and making Reader a negotiating priority, he isn’t expected to be back with the Texans. The Texans have made Reader contract offers, but started off way too low last offseason, initially at $6 million per year, for him to give them that kind of extreme hometown discount.”
Wilson estimates that it could take anywhere from $11 to $13 million annually in a contract to sign the 25-year-old, who finished with an elite grade of 86.7 in 2019, per Pro Football Focus, and has the ability to play anywhere on the defensive line.
The 6-foot-3, 347-pound lineman also has some familiarity with Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, who was his defensive coordinator with the Texans back in 2017. It’s no secret Vrabel likes players and coaches he knows.
Back in December, Vrabel praised Reader prior to the Titans’ game against the Texans, via Mark Lane of Texans Wire.
“I was lucky to have coached [Reader], been a part of the coaching staff,” Vrabel told the Houston media on a conference call on Dec. 11, 2019. “I think [Reader is] playing at a high level, I would say a Pro Bowl level.
“D.J. has continued to improve his pass rush, his ability to affect the passer. He’s a great run defender, his technique is always very good.”
While Reader is no doubt a very good player, this would be a surprising move for Tennessee to make, especially considering the amount of free agents they have to re-sign and bigger holes to fill.
One of the few areas that seem shored up for the Titans is their defensive line, as Jurrell Casey, Jeffery Simmons and DaQuan Jones already make up an impressive — and expensive — group upfront in the Titans’ 3-4 defense.
Defensive tackle Austin Johnson is set to be a free agent this offseason, but he was used as a rotational player in 2019 and simply replacing him with Reader would be going above and beyond.
At most, the Titans need some depth behind their 2019 starters if Johnson doesn’t return, unless one of those aforementioned starters isn’t in the team’s future plans and gets moved this offseason.