D.J. Reader was one of the Cincinnati Bengals’ prized free agent acquisitions last year, the organization moving away from their blueprint and spending heavily on outside free agents for a change. Signed to the largest contract in NFL history for a nose tackle, he was expected to make an immediate impact for a defense looking to re-establish its identity as a physical group.
Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending injury just five games into his Bengals career, limited to only 259 defensive snaps. He still finished the year with 19 tackles, including one for a loss, and two passes defensed.