Reader can be ‘a solid force’ for the Titans

When Reader was in his second year with the Texans in 2017, Houston was preparing for the Seattle Seahawks in Week 8. Reader had produced 23 tackles, two tackles for loss, and 1.0 sack in his seven games. Against the Cleveland Browns the week prior, the first game without defensive end J.J. Watt, Reader produced five tackles, two for loss, and 1.0 sack.

“I really like where D.J.’s at,” Vrabel said. “I think he’s a solid force inside, good pad level, good explosion, good hands, good technique. You’ve got to do a good job if you want to block him. He’s playing square in the run game. So, I like his physicalness.”

As a second-year player, Vrabel stated that he thought Reader understood “his importance to our defense,” indicating that exceptional interior play from Reader allowed their defense to be stout in the trenches.

The Titans have advantageous salary cap space in 2020 with approximately $50.0 million, the 12th-most in the NFL. The Texans have the ninth-most at $61.3 million. If Houston lets Reader get away, the Titans would have enough to cash to keep him in the AFC South.