Dallas Cowboys: Top-5 Free Agent Defensive Tackles to Target
By Reid Hanson
D.J. Reader
Age: 25
PFF Rank: 6
If the Dallas Cowboys can invest in any one veteran defensive tackle, D.J. Reader is far and away my top pick. The 6-foot-3 347lbs anchor of the Texans defensive line is exploring free agency at the very top of his game.
Since being drafted in the 5th round of the 2016 Draft, Reader has built one good season upon the other, showing steady improvement each campaign, and landing as Pro Football Focus’ 6th best DT in the NFL last season.
With only 2.5 sacks in 2019, average NFL fans may not get it, but for anyone who’s seen Reader play know there’s so much more to the story. Besides the fact he holds up against double-teams and makes things easy for his linebackers behind him, Reader is also an extraordinarily reliable tackler. In 2019 his missed tackle percentage was just 3.7. Considering that came with 52 total tackles (a career best). Perspective on that stats? I’m glad you asked. Maliek Collins had a 13% missed tackle percentage (per Pro Football Reference).
But Reader isn’t just a run stopper and linebacker enabler. He’s a developing pass rusher. He’s not the second coming of Aaron Donald or anything, but he has the raw skills that make him more than a trashcan full of dirt at the nose.
In 2019 D.J. Reader collected six tackles for loss, 13 QB Hits, and 36 total pressures (career bests). He flashed when allowed to play outside in a little more space and isn’t limited to playing NT. Reader would come to Dallas playing the 1-tech. With the ability to push the pocket or shoot the gap, he poses a threat in more ways than just stopping the run.
At 25-years-old, D.J. Reader is just scratching the surface. And that’s not surprising since DT’s notoriously take time to hit their peak. Whoever signs Reader is going to get him through all of his best years. His presence would allow Dallas to gamble with more undersized explosive pass rushers at the 3-tech, and will give LVE and Jaylon Smith the best chance to succeed.
Spotrac estimates D.J. will command a contract north of 5-years, $59 million in free agency. Too much to spend on a team with needs elsewhere? Perhaps, but it’s investing in an ascending talent who’s already top-10 at his position.