By Sunday 
A Changing of the Guard Up Front?
The Detroit Lions have made waves this offseason—not just with coaching shakeups and roster adjustments, but by laying down a clear message: the interior of the defensive line needed help. Their response? Drafting Ohio State standout Tyleik Williams in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
It’s a move that injected fresh energy into the trenches. But it also put a rather large spotlight on one of Detroit’s highest-paid veterans: defensive tackle D.J. Reader.
The Case for Reader—And Against Him
Reader is no slouch. In his first year with the Lions, he started 15 games and logged three sacks, anchoring a defense that—at times—struggled mightily against the run. While Detroit finished 19th in opponent rushing yards per carry (4.5), Reader brought leadership and consistency to the middle.
Pro Football Focus graded him 55th out of 219 interior defensive linemen. That’s solid. Respectable. But is it $13 million–a–year good in a unit that just drafted a younger, cheaper, and arguably more explosive version of him?
Let’s be honest—NFL decisions are rarely just about talent. They’re about timing, money, and potential. And the numbers aren’t in Reader’s favor. He’s entering the final year of a two-year, $22 million deal. If Detroit wants to save cap space and bet on youth, trading Reader before training camp could be a smart—if tough—call.
What Tyleik Williams Brings to the Table
Williams didn’t get a ton of reps in OTA sessions due to injury, but he made enough of a mark to give Lions brass something to chew on. His run-stuffing ability and disruptive presence—honed in a championship run at Ohio State—could quickly translate to NFL productivity.
With Alim McNeill still recovering from a torn ACL, Williams’ emergence becomes even more crucial. If he continues to impress, it’s easy to imagine a rotation where Reader becomes more expendable than essential.
Will They Pull the Trigger?
Is a trade likely? Not exactly. But it’s not far-fetched either. If a team loses a key D-lineman early in camp and Detroit’s front office gets a decent offer, don’t be surprised if Reader is packing his bags.
This is a front office that values development, youth, and cap flexibility. Reader is valuable—but maybe not valuable enough to stick around with $13 million on the books and a hungry rookie nipping at his heels.
The Bottom Line
Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes have already made it clear: this team is built from the inside out. But the exact blueprint may be changing. D.J. Reader helped lay the foundation, but Tyleik Williams might be the future—and the future has a way of arriving quicker than expected.