Is this Bo Wright Cousin ?
Maybe there getting ready to release Reader ?
1 Like
I think this could be a prelude for cutting, yes, cutting DJ Reader. The Lions would save almost $8M on the salary cap.
1 Like
Reader has a $4M roster bonus in a few days, so…
1 Like
I don’t get the reason to release DJ Reader at this point in FA? You have money and he is only on a 1 year deal. If you were going to release why not do that this past weekend when there were players to sign? At this point the talent pool of guys is pretty thin
I wonder if part of the calculus is you can get the most out of older DJ Reader by keeping his snap count down.
I assume that we are going to have a DL heavy draft. If so then everything they’ve done so far is fine. Countering the Davis loss with a comparable player was massive.
Though I’m still hoping a Lawrence visit.
3 Likes
They didn’t have to and they didn’t have a replacement.
Think he had more batted balls in those 2024 highlights than the entire Lions DL combined lmfao. Feels like the Lions never get their hands on balls
4 Likes
Why would we want to cut Reader? The Lions talk all the time about stopping the run is a top priority. I don’t think it would make sense to cut our best run stopper, that made us on of the top run defenses last year.
If its the size, look at this. Alim McNeil is 6’2, 315. Roy Lopez is… 6’2, 318. DJ Reader is 6’3, 327. My money says Lopez is here to be the large penetrating DT that McNeil is, until McNeil can come back which will probably be close to late October or November.
1 Like
I just checked, and it’s damn close. Lopez had 3 batted balls in 2024 and the entire Lions DL had 4 combined. Yikes.
3 Likes
So Bo Wrights cousin is taking over for McNeil till he returns ?
1 Like
I would get cutting Reader if he still had muilti years on his deal. And you did it before free agency started. But I don’t see the point in cutting him unless he has void years similar to Z. Smith where if you cut him you save money next year? But I thought those void years were added by Cleveland to Z contract because of the Watson deal?
I think Aaron Glenn didn’t want his balls batted… he preferred his guys to just attack the hole
5 Likes
To sign Levi?
1 Like
I would hate that move if that was the case. Levi doesn’t bring anything special to the table in my eyes. I think he is a solid player, but he is replaceable. I’d much rather let Levi go get paid by someone else (and clearly offers aren’t pouring in) and we roll with Reader/Lopez until McNeil is back, than try to roll with Levi/Lopez in the middle. Especially since it looks like one of Lopez’s weaknesses is holding up against the run.
1 Like
Hutch had a bunch in 2023… But last year it sure was rare…kinda strange
I haven’t really looked at his tape. I saw NT and I saw 4.5 million and assumed that was rich for a Reader back up. With a bromart in the wings
I personal would not be a fan of that move. Levi had 1 decent year out of 4… he was supposed to get a bag this off-season. I would let him continue to explore his options and if he wanted to come back on a 1 year deal ok.
1 Like
Lopez actually put up very similar stats to Reader last year:
| SNP | TKL | STOP | PRES | HUR | SACK | FFM | BAT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reader | 566 | 12 | 14 | 22 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Lopez | 464 | 18 | 14 | 18 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
2 Likes
Check out the videos I posted above when you get some time. To me, that looks more like a McNeil style player. Levi is 280ish, so more of a classic UT. The Lions last year went with Reader/McNeil as a big front, with McNeil the more penetrating guy and Reader was the run guy. So we would give up some size if we cut Reader, swap in Lopez and sign Levi.
1 Like
The sack/forced fumble is in the highlights video. That was on Josh Allen. Right there, Lopez did something the entire Lions defense couldn’t do. Hit Josh Allen.
2 Likes