D.J. Reader

Detroit Lions, Defensive Tackle
Age: 30-153d (Jul 01, 1994)
Exp: 8 Years
Country: US
College: Clemson
Drafted: Round 5 (#166 overall), 2016
Agent(s): Joby Branion (Vanguard Sports Group)
2024 Cap Hit

$5,303,000

2024 Cash

$10,275,000

Career Earnings

$67,074,664

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 $5,303,000 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
MANAGE CONTRACT
Year Age Status Cap HitAnnual Cap % League Cap Cash Annual Cash Cumulative Dead Cap Annual
2024 30 $5,303,000 2.08% $10,275,000 $10,275,000 $7,425,000
POTENTIAL OUT: 2025, 1 YR, $10,275,000; $4,972,000 DEAD CAP
2025 31 $12,243,000 4.48% $11,000,000 $21,275,000 $4,972,000
2026 32
Void
UFA
 $3,729,000 1.28% - $21,275,000 $3,729,000
2027
Void
 $1,243,000 0.40% - $21,275,000 -
2028
Void
 $1,243,000 0.37% - $21,275,000 -
Year Age Status Base P5 Salary 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 $550,000 $200,000 $5,303,000 2.08% $7,425,000
POTENTIAL OUT: 2025, 1 YR, $10,275,000; $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
Void
UFA
 - $1,243,000 - - - $3,729,000 1.28% $3,729,000
2027
Void
 - $1,243,000 - - - $1,243,000 0.40% -
2028
Void
 - $1,243,000 - - - $1,243,000 0.37% -
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 $10,275,000 $10,275,000 $10,275,000 $10,637,500
POTENTIAL OUT: 2025, 1 YR, $10,275,000; $4,972,000 DEAD CAP
2025 31 $6,290,000 - $4,000,000 $200,000 $11,000,000 $21,275,000 $10,637,500 $11,000,000
2026 32
Void
 - - - - - $21,275,000 - -
2027 33
Void
 - - - - - $21,275,000 - -
2028 34
Void
 - - - - - $21,275,000 - -
Contract Notes
  • $7.425M guaranteed (signing bonus + 2024 salary)
  • 2024 Roster Bonus: $2.1M (guaranteed)
  • 2025 Roster Bonus: $4M ( 3rd league day of 2025)
  • 2024 Per Game Active Bonus: $61,764 ($1.05M)
  • 2025 Per Game Active Bonus: $30,000 ($510,000)
  • 2024 Playing Time Incentives (non-cumulative)
    14 Games Active Incentive: $1.6M
    16 Games Active Incentive: $500,000
  • 2024-2025 Incentives
    50% Snaps: $200,000
    55% Snaps: $300,000
    60% Snaps: $500,000
  • 2024-2025 Sack Incentives (cumulative)
    3: $375,000
    5: $375,000
  • 2025 Escalator
    50% Snaps: $200,000
    55% Snaps: $300,000
    60% Snaps: $500,000
    3 Sacks: $375,000
    5 Sacks: $375,000
Source: NFL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2020-2023 Free Agent

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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Seasons

8 Years

Career Earnings thru 2024

$67,074,664

Earnings w/ Different Teams

3 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
$10,275,000
$67,074,664
Total      
$67,074,664
$67,074,664
2025 31
Active
$11,000,000
Total
$78,074,664

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
1 $1,210,000 $6,215,000 $2,100,000 - $200,000 - $10,275,000
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
$10,275,000
$67,074,664
Total
$31,205,000
$22,680,380
$11,335,290
$800,000
$174,588
$67,074,664
$67,074,664
2025
31
$6,290,000
$4,000,000
$200,000
$11,000,000
Total
$37,495,000
$22,680,380
$15,335,290
$1,000,000
$174,588
$78,074,664

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
1 $1,210,000 $6,215,000 $2,100,000 - $200,000 - $10,275,000

Injuries

Year Weeks Reason
2017 HOU 16 - 17 Undisclosed
2020 CIN 6 - 17 Quad
2021 CIN 16 - 16 COVID-19
2022 CIN 4 - 10 Knee (MCL)
2023 CIN 16 - 18 Quad
  • 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
2024 DET 9 9 280 42.50 1 13 7 6 0 0
2023 CIN 14 14 535 57.50 1 34 20 14 0 0
2022 CIN 10 10 397 59.50 0 27 18 9 0 0
2021 CIN 15 15 590 54.00 2 43 22 21 0 0
2020 CIN 5 5 259 73.20 0 19 8 11 0 0
2019 HOU 15 15 629 57.90 3 52 28 24 0 0
2018 HOU 16 16 637 60.40 2 33 23 10 0 0
2017 HOU 14 14 526 60.10 1 48 23 25 0 0
2016 HOU 16 7 407 40.90 1 22 8 14 0 0

FEATURED PLAYER NEWS

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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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