Reader departs
Nose tackle D.J. Reader, Bengals agree to four-year deal.
D.J. Reader joined the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday, emerging as the highest-paid nose tackle in football and creating a 6-4, 337-pound hole in the Texans’ defensive line.
Reader agreed to a four-year, $53 million contract that averages $13.25 million annually, according to NFL sources not authorized to speak publicly.
Operating as a versatile nose tackle and defensive end, Reader dominated blockers for the past four years.
“I’m super excited, just really excited to get out there,” Reader said in a telephone interview. “They’ve got a good team, good things going. Hopefully, I can be one of those pieces.”
Reader had multiple free-agent options, including the Denver Broncos. The rebuilding Bengals, who have the top overall pick in the draft and are expected to select LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, made a hefty investment that Reader couldn’t turn down.
Ultimately, it was a difficult personal decision for Reader to leave the Texans.
The Texans negotiated with Reader in the past but didn’t get anywhere close to his asking price due to pending deals with Pro Bowl quarterback Deshaun
Watson and Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil and other rosterbuilding considerations. The Texans offered Reader $6 million per year last summer, never getting to the $10.5 million average that would have likely locked him up, according to sources.
When the Texans signed outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus to a $54 million extension, there was no way they could afford to keep an expensive run-stopper like Reader. Although they maintained an occasional dialogue with Reader this offseason, they never made a big push to try to retain him.
“It’s a really tough push-pull,” Reader said. “You make friends. You know people. You’ve got to make the best decision for you. You know it’s a business. Sometimes you get a first job, and then you get another job, and that’s how it goes.
“I thought it would work out. Sometimes things don’t work out, and that’s OK. I think they’re doing their best for their organization.”
It will be difficult for the Texans to replace Reader. They will lean heavily on three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt along with other returning linemen like Brandon Dunn, who recently signed a three-year, $12 million contract, Charles Omenihu and Angelo Blackson.
Reader flashed some passrushing ability when given opportunities. In 15 starts last season, he recorded a career-high 52 tackles and 2½ sacks.
Reader, 25, is in the prime of his career and has been durable and productive. In 61 career games, he has 154 tackles and 6½ sacks. He has lined up at defensive end and nose tackle, showing positional flexibility.
When the Texans have played against elite offensive linemen, including road-grading Indianapolis Colts All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson, Reader has been up to the task. Unlike many defensive linemen who haven’t been able to stand their ground against Nelson, Reader has graded out well against one of the most dominant interior offensive linemen in the league.
Reader’s stated preference had been to remain with the Texans. He has developed strong relationships with his teammates and in the community.
“I thank them for bringing in a kid who never thought anything like this was possible coming out of Clemson,” Reader said. “They gave me confidence. As an organization, they helped me so much.”
In other free agency news, the Texans retained cornerback Vernon Hargreaves.
Although the Texans released the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers first-round draft pick instead of paying his $9.594 million fifth-year option after the season, he’s now back on the roster.
The Texans re-signed Hargreaves to a one-year contract, according to a league source not authorized to speak publicly.
Hargreaves finished the regular season with 21 tackles, one tackle for loss and two passes defensed for the Texans.
Overall, including his time with the Buccaneers, Hargreaves had 54 tackles and one interception. He allowed 65 catches on 88 targets for a 47.5 Pro Football Focus analytics grade.
The 11th overall pick in the 2016 draft out of Florida, Hargreaves was cut by the Buccaneers after coach Bruce Arians questioned his effort and said he didn’t hustle on a long touchdown allowed. That was the final straw for the Buccaneers, who released him.
The Texans had no issues with Hargreaves’ work ethic, praising his contributions throughout the season.
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