According to reports Tuesday, the Cincinnati Bengals just made D.J. Reader the NFL’s highest-paid nose tackle.
So it’s time to get to know him.
Reader, 25, is one of the NFL’s emerging stars. He’s 347 pounds of almost confusing abilities, as he’s stout against the run but a great pressure-creator too — hence the 86.7 grade at Pro Football Focus last year.
On the pressure side, Reader played 58 percent of the snaps last year yet recorded 52 tackles with seven quarterback knockdowns, 12 pressures and two sacks.
There’s a reason he’s making north of $50 million. There’s a reason he was sixth on our free-agency big board. And there’s a reason he’s among the top 10 in WAR:
Reader makes the Bengals better, younger and causes a positive ripple effect on the rest of the defense. Missing on free-agent linebackers doesn’t hurt as much now.
The addition also means the Bengals can proceed as planned with a reduced role for Geno Atkins. A more specialized role for Atkins in Lou Anarumo’s front could make for a much more productive defense.
Put it all together and Reader is a good example of the Bengals potentially changing their ways in the pursuit of winning.
