The Chicago Bears look to build on what they did in 2025, and with the NFL Draft in the rearview mirror, it's on to offseason programming. Despite the draft being in the rearview mirror and the bulk of free agency over, there are still players on the market who could help out Chicago.
Defensive tackle D.J. Reader is a name the Bears should heavily consider to help beef up the interior of the defensive line. The additions that Chicago made at defensive tackle this offseason have been minimal. In free agency, they signed Kentavius Street, James Lynch, and Neville Gallimore. They then drafted Jordan van den Berg in the sixth round, but none of these players should hold Chicago back from kicking the tires on Reader.
Bears Should Consider Signing D.J. Reader with NFL Draft Over
Reader is a 10-year veteran who spent the last two seasons with the Detroit Lions. While he may not be an elite run-stuffer at this stage of his career, he can still be a sound rotational piece. In 137 career games (128 starts), Reader has recorded 328 total tackles, 27 TFLs, 56 QB hits, and 12.5 sacks.
In each of the last nine seasons, Reader has played in at least 53 percent of the defensive snaps. It does look like his production versus the run slipped a bit last season, with him logging a career-low 61.7 run defense grade (31st among 134 graded defensive linemen), per Pro Football Focus. Despite that, Gervon Dexter Jr. and Grady Jarrett, who led Chicago DTs in snaps, didn't finish with a run-defense grade higher than 42.8 on PFF last season. And given the lack of moves to that position, Chicago plans to roll with them as their starters in the middle.
With the only defensive tackle addition coming in the sixth round, Reader is the exact kind of signing the Bears should make. Spotrac projects that Reader will get a deal in the market of $3.9 million per season. That's a low-cost deal for a player who would raise the floor at the position.
The Bears are looking to be Super Bowl contenders in 2026, so having a veteran on the team never hurts. There have been rumors that Reader will join the New York Giants, per Dave Clark of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Despite the talks, nothing is finalized, and Chicago should jump into the sweepstakes.
Jarrett didn't play well in 2025, and Dexter Jr. is going into a contract year. They do have Shemar Turner going into his sophomore year, but he tore his ACL last season. There's no harm in adding a proven veteran like Reader, and GM Ryan Poles would be wise to see what it would take to bring him over to the Windy City.
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