Tag: D.J. Reader

The Real Forno Show: 12 free agents Vikings should pursue

On the latest episode of The Real Forno Show, we discuss 12 free agents the Minnesota Vikings should pursue in free agency.

This is an incredibly pivotal offseason for the Minnesota Vikings. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is tasked with finding the future at the quarterback position along with potentially replacing Danielle Hunter and extending Justin Jefferson.

With nearly $40 million in salary cap space, there is plenty of salary cap space to make a splash and fortify the roster. On the latest episode of The Real Forno Show, we discuss 12 players that they should be targeting once the legal tampering period begins on March 11th.

  • Miami DT Christian Wilkins
  • Miami DE Emmanuel Ogbah
  • Miami ILB Jerome Baker
  • Cincinnati DT D.J. Reader
  • Seattle TE Noah Fant
  • Seattle ILB Jordyn Brooks
  • New York RB Saquon Barkley
  • San Francisco DT Javon Kinlaw
  • San Francisco EDGE Chase Young
  • Dallas EDGE Dorance Armstrong Jr.
  • Baltimore EDGE Jadeveon Clowney
  • Carolina ILB Frankie Luvu

Why should they target these players and which combinations would make sense to target in unison? How many do they “need to” sign?

We are here to break it all down and more on the latest episode of The Real Forno Show, airing Monday and Wednesday nights at 6 pm central on the Vikings 1st & SKOL YouTube channel.

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ESPN on the top free agency fits for former Tigers Christian Wilkins, DJ Reader

Wilkins lands with a new team, and Reader replaces him? ESPN on free agency fits for two former Clemson stars.

There are former Clemson stars all over the NFL, with multiple in this 2024 free agency and looking for new contracts, possibly with new teams. 

Two of the biggest names in free agency are defensive tackles Christian Wilkins and DJ Reader. The two are arguably the top defensive players on their current (possibly former) teams, the Miami Dolphins for Wilkins and the Cincinnati Bengals for Reader. They also remain two of the top players at the position. 

ESPN recently released an article naming key free agency moves for all 32 NFL teams, with Wilkins and Reader both being named. For Reader, it is with the Miami Dolphins and seemingly replacing Wilkins on that defensive line. 

Defensive tackles Christian Wilkins, Raekwon Davis and Da’Shawn Hand are free agents this offseason, so the Dolphins are going to need help up front. Why not steal from another top AFC contender while shoring up the middle of their defense? Reader doesn’t get big stats, but he does soak up double-teams and is an even stronger pass-rusher than he is a run-stopper. Note that Reader suffered a torn quadriceps injury in Week 15, so the Dolphins would want to make sure he’s ready to go for the start of the 2024 season before making this signing.

This move would make sense, especially if Wilkins will not be a Dolphin in 2024. He would likely be a cheaper option who can make a similar impact. Wilkins may be younger, but Reader is still a baller.

For Wilkins, it is joining an elite defense, the Cleveland Browns.

Cleveland’s defense was a primary reason the Browns were able to overcome injuries and make the playoffs, but they need help on the defensive line. Defensive tackles Shelby Harris, Jordan Elliott and Maurice Hurst II are all free agents, leaving a space open next to Dalvin Tomlinson. Wilkins had nine sacks, 35 pressure and 63 combined tackles for the Dolphins last season. He ranked 13th in pass rush win rate among interior linemen while taking on a lot of double-teams, and he’s a very strong run defender.

Wilkins would be huge addition for the Browns. That defense and defensive line are already elite, but Wilkins is a different animal. He would step right into that unit and bring a completely different level of play at the position.

Both landing spots make sense and would be interesting to watch.

5 DTs the Colts should target in free agency

Taking a look at some DT targets for Indy in free agency.

Free agency for the interior of the defensive line for the Indianapolis Colts all comes down to what Chris Ballard does with Grover Stewart.

They are set with DeForest Buckner at the three-tech spot for at least one more season but if Stewart isn’t re-signed, there is a glaring hole in that part of the roster.

Even if Stewart is brought back for the 2024 season, Ballard also has to consider depth beyond him because of how far the rush defense fell when Stewart was out of the lineup in the 2023 season because of his six-game suspension.

Here are five defensive tackles that the Colts should target as replacement options for Stewart if he walks and/or quality depth option to have in the rotation behind him:

6 Interior defensive linemen Vikings could target in free agency

From Chris Jones to Christian Wilkins, here are six players the Minnesota Vikings could look to bring in via free agency to upgrade their defense at defensive tackle.

Unlike the interior of the offensive line, the interior of the defensive line isn’t an area of need for the Minnesota Vikings. They have some talent at the position already in-house with nose tackle Harrison Phillips and defensive tackles Sheldon Day and Khyiris Tonga.

They also have 2023 fifth-round pick Jaquelin Roy at the position, who showed some promise during the season. The Vikings have a solid group up front already.

With that said, the league is constantly changing and evolving. If you’re not constantly looking for ways to improve your team, you may as well pack your bags now – cause you’re not going to last long in this league.

The defensive tackle group they have in Minnesota right now is adequate, but there are plenty of options available for them to upgrade – if the front office decides that’s where they want to spend their money.

It’s important to note that the six players we’re going to look at in this are listed without regard to the schemes they come from or what they’re best suited to play in (i.e. 4-3 vs. 3-4). Defensive coordinator Brian Flores implements so much variety in his defensive gameplans that he can make use of talent regardless of the perceived “fit” in the scheme.

So, with that disclaimer out of the way, let’s take a look at six options for the Minnesota Vikings to upgrade on the interior during free agency.

Ranking the top-10 free agent DTs who fit the Cowboys needs in 2024

Defensive tackle is a position the Cowboys need to drastically improve at in 2024 so we look at the top-10 free agent fits in Dallas. | From @ReidDHanson

The Cowboys have a handful of needs they need to address over the 2024 offseason but perhaps none more urgent than that of the defensive tackle position. The Dallas defense was routinely manhandled inside in 2023 and struggled to keep blockers from reaching the second level and overpowering their already undersized LB corps.

Bigger LBs will help the Cowboys run defense in 2024 but if the interior linemen can’t do more to keep them free of blockers, size will only help them so much. Since LB performance is directly linked to the DT play in front of them (much like RB success is dependent on run blocking), fixing the DT has to be the highest defensive priority over the offseason.

The Cowboys are expected to re-sign internal free agent Johnathan Hankins, but that won’t be enough. Hankins was good as a rotational player but his value in Cowboys’ circles tends to be a bit inflated. Dallas needs a clear upgrade inside and while they remain optimistic about Mazi Smith’s future, they can’t bank on him to be any more than a rotational player himself in Year 2.

Unlike previous top-10 free agent lists like RB and WR, DT is a position the Cowboys need to address primarily through free agency. They need a game-ready starter if they want to improve in 2024 and can’t wait for a rookie to develop.

Not just as a run stopper but interior pressure player. Once again this season, the Cowboys overworked Osa Odighizuwa, and once again this season, he appeared to fade down the stretch. Adding a pass rush presence inside will help Dallas get more from him when games matter most.

The Cowboys could go a number of directions in free agency but based on the Cowboys’ needs and the options available, here are the 10 best fits.

Ranking 2024’s top 12 free-agent interior defensive linemen

Free agency’s top interior defensive linemen

The Carolina Panthers have themselves one of the very best defensive tackles in the game. In fact, they have the one who just set an single-season tackle record for the position.

But if they’re looking to add to their front, let’s keep you in the know about the very best free-agent interior defensive linemen.

Bengals provide injury updates on Ja’Marr Chase, DJ Reader, DJ Ivey

Injury updates on Ja’Marr Chase, DJ Reader, DJ Ivey.

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor provided insight on the slew of major injuries the team suffered during the Week 15 win over the Minnesota Vikings.

As expected, star defensive lineman DJ Reader is out for the year with a torn quad. Rookie cornerback DJ Ivey is also out for the year with a torn ACL.

And as for Ja’Marr Chase, Taylor confirmed an earlier report that the star wideout suffered a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder, effectively making him a day-to-day candidate before Week 16.

Chase becomes the biggest Bengals item to track over the next week, as it will be interesting to see if the team goes the overly precautious route despite the playoff importance of the upcoming game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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Bengals star DJ Reader suffered torn quad, out for season

An update on Bengals star DJ Reader.

Cincinnati Bengals star defensive lineman DJ Reader will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a torn quad during Saturday’s win over the Minnesota Vikings.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported the news.

Reader went down on the first defensive drive of the game and needed a cart to leave the field, with the team’s instant declaration of his missing the remainder of the game a tell as to the severity.

Arguably the best nose tackle in football, Reader suffered the same injury in the opposite leg a few years ago and eventually came all the way back to full form.

But given the repeated injury, extensive rehab time for an issue so serious and the fact he’ll turn 30 next year, it’s hard to judge how things will play out. Reader is set to be a free agent after the season, so this injury will weigh heavily on those proceedings.

As for the Bengals, a platoon of Josh Tupou and others will attempt to fill the void, though it’s something opponents will gameplan to attack each week now.

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Former Clemson defender carted off

A former Clemson defensive tackle had to be carted off the field on Saturday.

Former Clemson defensive tackle D.J. Reader suffered what appeared to be a significant injury on Saturday and had to be carted off in the Cincinnati Bengals’ game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Playing for the Bengals, Reader went down in the first quarter of the game against the Vikings and had to be carted off the field due to a right knee injury. He was immediately ruled out of the game in the ensuing minutes.

The injury comes at a poor time for Reader, as he is in a contract year and is set to be a free agent in the spring. Prior to Saturday, Reader had 34 total tackles, one sack, one fumble recovery and one pass deflection.

In four years at Clemson, the former four-star recruit had 71 total tackles and five sacks from 2012-2015. After being drafted by the Houston Texans in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL draft, Reader signed a four-year deal with the Bengals in 2020.

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Bengals DL DJ Reader carted off vs. Vikings

A Bengals star needed a cart to leave the field.

Cincinnati Bengals star defensive lineman DJ Reader needed a cart to leave the field on Saturday during the team’s Week 15 game against the Minnesota Vikings.

On the team’s first defensive series of the game, Reader went down after a seemingly routine play and attempted to get back up with the help of teammates before signaling to the sideline.

Since coming over as a major free-agency addition in 2020, Reader has been a centerpiece of the Lou Anarumo defense and is arguably the unit’s best player.

Reader’s currently scheduled to be a free agent this upcoming offseason. Josh Tupou and others will attempt to fill the void over the last month as they attempt a playoff push.

Update: The Bengals immediately declared Reader out with a right knee injury:

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