D.J. Reader

Detroit Lions, Defensive Tackle
Age: 29-307d (Jul 01, 1994)
Exp: 7 Years
Country: US
College: Clemson
Drafted: Round 5 (#166 overall), 2016
Agent(s): Joby Branion (Vanguard Sports Group)
2024 Cap Hit

$5,803,000

2024 Cash

$11,000,000

Career Earnings

$67,799,664

2024-2025 Free Agent (CURRENT)

D.J. Reader signed a 2 year , $22,000,000 contract with the Detroit Lions, including $6,215,000 signing bonus, $7,425,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $11,000,000. In 2024, Reader will earn a base salary of $1,210,000, a signing bonus of $6,215,000, a roster bonus of $2,100,000 and a workout bonus of $200,000, while carrying a cap hit of $5,803,000 and a dead cap value of $7,425,000.

Contract Terms:
2 yr(s) / $22,000,000
Average Salary:
$11,000,000
Signing Bonus:
$6,215,000
GTD at Sign:
$7,425,000
Total GTD:
$7,425,000
Free Agent:
2026 / UFA
Year Age Base P5 SalarySalary Signing Proration Roster Bonus Roster/Gm Bonus Workout Bonus Cap Hit Cap % League Cap Dead Cap
2024 30 $1,210,000 $1,243,000 $2,100,000 $1,050,000 $200,000 $5,803,000 2.27% $7,425,000
POTENTIAL OUT: 2025, 1 YR, $11,000,000; $4,972,000 DEAD CAP
2025 31 $6,290,000 $1,243,000 $4,000,000 $510,000 $200,000 $12,243,000 4.48% $4,972,000
2026 32 - $1,243,000 - - - $3,729,000 1.28% $3,729,000
2027 33 - $1,243,000 - - - $1,243,000 0.40% -
2028 34 - $1,243,000 - - - $1,243,000 0.37% -
2026 35
UFA
Year Age Status Base P5 Salary Signing Bonus Roster Bonus Workout Bonus Cash Total Cash Cumulative AYC Cumulative AYC Remaining
2024 30 $1,210,000 $6,215,000 $2,100,000 $200,000 $11,000,000 $11,000,000 $11,000,000 $11,000,000
2025 31 $6,290,000 - $4,000,000 $200,000 $11,000,000 $22,000,000 $11,000,000 $11,000,000
2026 32
Void
 - - - - - - - -
2027 33
Void
 - - - - - - - -
2028 34
Void
 - - - - - - - -
Contract Notes
  • $7.425M guaranteed (signing bonus + 2024 salary)
  • 2024 Roster Bonus: $2.1M (guaranteed)
  • 2025 Roster Bonus: $4M
  • 2024 Per Game Active Bonus: $61,764 ($1.05M)
  • 2025 Per Game Active Bonus: $30,000 ($510,000)
Source: NFL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2020-2023

D.J. Reader signed a 4 year , $53,000,000 contract with the Cincinnati Bengals, including $16,250,000 signing bonus, $20,250,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $13,250,000.

Contract Terms:
4 yr(s) / $53,000,000
Average Salary:
$13,250,000
Signing Bonus:
$16,250,000
GTD at Sign:
$20,250,000
Total GTD:
$20,250,000
Free Agent:
2024 / UFA
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2016-2019 Rookie

D.J. Reader signed a 4 year , $2,555,380 contract with the Houston Texans, including $215,380 signing bonus, $215,380 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $638,845.

Contract Terms:
4 yr(s) / $2,555,380
Average Salary:
$638,845
Signing Bonus:
$215,380
GTD at Sign:
$215,380
Total GTD:
$215,380
Free Agent:
2020 / UFA
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Career Earnings thru 2024

$67,799,664

Career Earnings w/ Different Teams

2 teams

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2016 22
Active
$824,380
$824,380
2017 23
Injured
$540,000
$1,364,380
2018 24
Active
$630,000
$1,994,380
2019 25
Active
$2,025,000
$4,019,380
2020 26
Injured
$22,265,588
$26,284,968
2021 27
Active
$9,500,000
$35,784,968
2022 28
Active
$9,485,290
$45,270,258
2023 29
Injured
$11,529,406
$56,799,664
2024 30
Active
$11,000,000
$67,799,664
Total      
$67,799,664
$67,799,664
2025 31
Active
$11,000,000
$78,799,664
Total
$78,799,664
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Workout Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2016
22
$450,000
$215,380
$159,000
$824,380
$824,380
2017
23
$540,000
$540,000
$1,364,380
2018
24
$630,000
$630,000
$1,994,380
2019
25
$2,025,000
$2,025,000
$4,019,380
2020
26
$2,000,000
$16,250,000
$4,000,000
$15,588
$22,265,588
$26,284,968
2021
27
$4,300,000
$5,000,000
$200,000
$9,500,000
$35,784,968
2022
28
$9,050,000
$235,290
$200,000
$9,485,290
$45,270,258
2023
29
$11,000,000
$200,000
$11,529,406
$56,799,664
2024
30
$1,210,000
$6,215,000
$2,100,000
$200,000
$11,000,000
$67,799,664
Total
$31,205,000
$22,680,380
$11,335,290
$800,000
$174,588
$67,799,664
$67,799,664
2025
31
$6,290,000
$4,000,000
$200,000
$11,000,000
$78,799,664
Total
$37,495,000
$22,680,380
$15,335,290
$1,000,000
$174,588
$78,799,664

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
4 $3,645,000 $215,380 - - - $159,000 $4,019,380
4 $26,350,000 $16,250,000 $9,235,290 - $600,000 $15,588 $52,780,284
  • Mar 14, 2024 Signed a 2 year $22 million contract with Detroit (DET)
  • Mar 17, 2020 Signed a 4 year $53 million contract with Cincinnati (CIN)
  • May 05, 2016 Signed a 4 year $2.555 million contract with Houston (HOU)
  • Apr 30, 2016 Drafted by Houston (HOU): Round 5 (#166 overall)
Year Team GP GS Snaps Snaps% Sack Tackles Total Tackles Solo Tackles Assisted FFum Int
2023 CIN 14 14 535 57.50 1 34 20 14
2022 CIN 10 10 397 59.50 27 18 9
2021 CIN 15 15 590 54.00 2 43 22 21
2020 CIN 5 5 259 73.20 19 8 11
2019 HOU 15 15 629 57.90 3 52 28 24
2018 HOU 16 16 637 60.40 2 33 23 10
2017 HOU 14 14 526 60.10 1 48 23 25
2016 HOU 16 7 407 40.90 1 22 8 14

Calculated Market Value

$16.3M Avg. Annual Salary

Market Value

  • 3 years, $48,838,191
  • Avg. Salary: $16,279,397
  • NFL Rank: 133
  • DT Rank: 17

Current Contract

  • Free Agent: 2026
  • Avg. Salary: $11,000,000
  • NFL Rank: 219
  • DT Rank: 24

Comparable Players

We've selected the following players based on their age, contract status, and statistical production to compare D.J. Reader to.

Player Length Value Avg. Salary Age When Signed
Vita Vea 4 $71,000,000 $17,750,000 25
Jonathan Allen 4 $72,000,000 $18,000,000 25
Dexter Lawrence 4 $87,500,000 $21,875,000 25
Daron Payne 4 $90,000,000 $22,500,000 25
Averages 4 $80,125,000 $20,031,250 25.0

Base Calculated Value

After adjusting the above contracts as if signed at Reader's current age (29), a linear regression is performed, providing us with the following initial value.

Length Value Avg. Salary
3 $60,093,750 $20,031,250

Statistical Comparisons

Now we'll compare our variables and Reader statistically over the two seasons prior to their signing. In this case we're analyzing: GP%, Tackles/Gm, Sacks/Gm, Stops/Gm, QB Hurries/Gm, Rating

Player GP% Tackles/Gm Sacks/Gm Stops/Gm QB Hurries/Gm Rating
Vita Vea
2019-2020
 65.62 1.19 0.21 1.24 2.76 84.40
Jonathan Allen
2019-2020
 96.88 2.68 0.26 2.19 1.84 70.40
Dexter Lawrence
2021-2022
 94.12 1.94 0.31 2.19 1.97 80.35
Daron Payne
2021-2022
 100.00 2.03 0.47 2.47 1.76 61.30
Average 89.16 1.96 0.31 2.02 2.08 74.11
D.J. Reader
2022-2023
 75.00 1.58 0.04 1.75 1.79 84.75
Pct Change -15.88 -19.39 -87.10 -13.37 -13.94 14.36
Median Prime % Change -14.91%
Average Prime % Change -22.55%

Calculated Market Value: D.J. Reader

After applying our Prime % figures into our base calculated value, we're given two values. The average of these values becomes our current calculated market value.

Terms Avg. Salary
3 years, $48,838,191 $16,279,397

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TRANSACTIONS

Mar 14, 2024
Signed a 2 year $22 million contract with Detroit (DET)
Mar 17, 2020
Signed a 4 year $53 million contract with Cincinnati (CIN)
May 05, 2016
Signed a 4 year $2.555 million contract with Houston (HOU)
Apr 30, 2016
Drafted by Houston (HOU): Round 5 (#166 overall)

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