After moving on from Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, the Vikings could turn to veteran DT D.J. Reader to bolster their defensive line.
This month, the Minnesota Vikings bid farewell to defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, one year after signing them to sizeable contracts. Although the releases free up money, the Vikings now have question marks along the defensive line, leading to speculation that Minnesota could add another veteran lineman.
Kristopher Kox of Bleacher Report suggested the Vikings sign D.J. Reader to fortify the line. The defensive tackle, who spent the past two seasons with the Detroit Lions, will turn 32 in July, but Kox believes Reader can still be a quality starter.
"Despite playing through a back injury this past season, Reader started all 17 games for the Lions and recorded 28 tackles," Kox wrote. "He has appeared in at least 14 games in each of the past three seasons."
Reader, who stands 6'3", 335 pounds, posted a 68.9 defensive grade on PFF in 2025 (32/127 defensive linemen), including a 72.6 pass-rush grade and 61.7 run grade.
PFF lists Reader as the top available free agent, citing his consistency throughout his career.
"Reader is now 31 years old and has not quite matched his peak form from his time in Cincinnati since arriving in Detroit, but he remains an above-average starter at the NFL level," writes PFF. "His 68.9 PFF grade ranked 32nd 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."
Some may question replacing aging veterans with another veteran, but PFF projects Reader to land a one-year, $4.5 million deal. For comparison, Allen was set to carry an $11.2 million cap hit this season, while Hargrave’s cap number would have been $7.7 million.
Signing Reader could give the Vikings a proven veteran to play alongside Jalen Redmond and young players Levi Drake Rodriguez (25) and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (22). Both played well in rotational roles in 2025 but may not be ready for full-time starting duties.
The move would also fill an immediate need without tying Minnesota to an aging player in the future. That means they could still dip into the draft and take another lineman if they find the right value without feeling "forced" to select one to fill the roster.
So far, the Vikings have taken a conservative approach to free agency. Signing Reader would align with that strategy while providing an immediate upgrade along the defensive line.