Assuming that the Green Bay Packers will be playing a 3-4 base this year, which all signs are pointing to as of March 26th, the Packers still need one more starting defensive lineman to pair with Devonte Wyatt, who should be back on the field around minicamp, and the recently signed Javon Hargrave. Because of that, many Green Bay fans have circled the name D.J. Reader, who is one of the top remaining defensive tackles still available on the free agency market.
On Thursday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Reader, who started at nose tackle for the Detroit Lions last season, visited the Baltimore Ravens. Typically, when a player goes on a visit, the player is usually either signed quickly, which has yet to be reported in Reader’s case, or has a string of visits lined up.
For what it’s worth, the Ravens are in a similar position as the Packers, where any notable signing for a compensatory free agent (which Reader would be, as long as he makes in the ballpark of $3 million per year) would offset one of their four compensatory draft picks for 2027. Compensatory free agents signed will continue to count against teams in the compensatory pick formula until the Monday after the draft.
It’s hard to imagine that Reader, who made $22 million over two years on his last contract with Detroit, will make less than $3 million on his next deal, so the Ravens’ options are to either burn a pick for Reader or to hope that he’s still available to sign post-draft.
Veteran defensive tackle D.J. Reader took physical today with #Ravens and is expected to sign with a team post-draft. Could be #Ravens, but other #NFL teams are in on Reader, too https://t.co/9aAXeIYI2j
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 26, 2026
Update:
Aaron Wilson is now reporting that Reader is planning on signing with a team post-draft, a sign that the Ravens (and others) want to save their compensatory draft picks at this point in the offseason but are still interested in signing free agents down the line. Keep an eye out for other visits that Reader takes, as he apparently took a physical with Baltimore, according to Wilson.
