Update:
According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, Texans free agent DT D.J. Reader is expected to command over $10.5 million per year as a free agent this offseason.
Wilson says that the Texans negotiated with Reader before last season and have maintained dialogue with him. Wilson says the door isn’t closed regarding Reader returning to Houston, but it would be tough, considering the players that they will need to address in the years such as QB Deshaun Watson and LT Laremy Tunsil.
Some teams to keep an eye on for Reader include the Broncos and Titans, according to Wilson.
Mike Klis of 9 News reports that the Broncos were among several teams who expressed interest in Texans free agent DT D.J. Reader at the Combine.
Klis notes that Reader has the same agent as Von Miller and a long relationship with the Broncos.
Houston re-signed NT Brandon Dunn to a three-year extension a few weeks ago, which appears to be an indication that Houston will allow Reader to test the open market in the coming weeks and possibly sign with another team.
Reader is one of the top defensive linemen in this year’s free agent class and could walk away with a sizeable contract when all is said and done.
Reader, 25, is a former fifth-round pick of the Texans back in 2016. He played out the final year of his four-year, $2.55 million contract with the Texans and is now in position to test the open market as an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his NFL career.
In 2019, Reader appeared in 15 games for the Texans and recorded 52 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 7 interior defender out of 113 qualifying players.
We have him included in our Top 100 – 2020 Free Agents list.
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