Reader, a 10-year veteran, spent the past two seasons in Detroit, starting all 32 regular-season games he appeared in. He posted 51 tackles, four tackles for loss, 12 quarterback hits, three sacks, and one pass breakup. Pro Football Focus ranked him 30th among interior defenders in 2025, recording 20 pressures, 17 hurries, and 15 stops.
Reader joined the Lions on a two-year, $22 million contract in March 2024 after four seasons with the Bengals. He originally entered the NFL with the Houston Texans after being selected in the fifth round in 2016.
Detroit is counting on a leap from young interior players to fill Reader’s role, led by first-round pick Tyleik Williams (No. 28 overall) from 2025. Williams appeared in 17 games with 10 starts as a rookie and finished around the 51st-ranked interior defender by PFF, accumulating 19 pressures, 17 hurries, 12 stops, four pass breakups, three QB hits, two tackles for loss, and one sack. Alim McNeill, a four-year starter, signed a contract worth $97 million through 2028, after missing time with injuries.
The Lions could add depth on the interior in this week’s draft, but their recent investments suggest top-two picks will more likely target edge-rusher, left tackle, or both. Detroit holds picks No. 17 and No. 50 in the first two rounds and No. 118 in Round 4, with several later selections to potentially address interior depth.
Reader’s departure leaves Detroit relying on Williams and McNeill as core pieces on the interior, with room to add depth through the draft or further moves. The development of the young backups and how the Lions allocate their limited high-end resources will shape their defensive line plans for 2026.
