Feb. 7, 2026, 3:02 p.m. ET

Roughly a month ago, Cincinnati Bengals fans started the campaign to bring back defensive lineman DJ Reader in free agency.

Reader played a key role in deep playoff runs for the Bengals and was one of the best free-agent signings in franchise history. 

So, what does the market look like for Reader right now?

Let Pro Football Focus tell it, Reader is the 20th-best player headed to free agency on a list of 250 before the market opens:

“Reader is now 31 years old and has not quite matched his peak form fro`m his time in Cincinnati since arriving in Detroit, but he remains an above-average starter at the NFL level. His 68.4 PFF grade ranked 36th among interior defensive linemen this season, and he has never recorded a PFF pass-rush or run-defense grade below 60.0 in any season of his career.”

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Even better? Reader’s contract projection at this stage of his career is an affordable one-year deal worth $4.5 million. 

It’s an obvious thing the Bengals should do, provided Reader is interested. 

The interior of the defensive line is one of the biggest areas of need for the Bengals this offseason. B.J. Hill figures to return, while TJ Slaton is a cut candidate. The development of Kris Jenkins Jr. has been steady, but not fast enough. 

Reader would be a great stopgap solution for the Bengals. He’s familiar with the organization, was a very respected locker room leader and could join the rotation with something to offer. 

The Bengals reuniting with Reader wouldn’t prevent them from attacking the area of need as early as 10th overall in the first round, either. In fact, a budget-based move like this might just give them enough wiggle room to make a much bigger splash at another problem area like safety. 

So no, it’s not hard to see why Bengals fans have Reader on the mind with free agency on approach. 

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