Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard has said he wants his team to get younger and more athletic on the defensive front seven, but that shouldn't come at the cost of having less talent. That is why Indy potentially signing former Lou Anarumo disciple DJ Reader would make sense.
Anarumo coached Reader when both worked for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2020 through 2023 (Anarumo worked there for a longer period of time as the defensive coordinator, however). While the Bengals' defense wasn't overly good during that time, Reader was. Just as he has always been.
Reader might no longer collect many sacks, but that was never his forte anyway. He can get quarterback pressure, and opponents understand that and have to account for him. This frees up Reader's teammates. But where the defensive tackle truly stood out was in run support.
Why the Indianapolis Colts signing DJ Reader would make sense
In his final three seasons with the Bengals, the DT had at least 30 run stuffs every season. In his last two years, he has played with the Detroit Lions and been slightly less productive, but his fit with Detroit wasn't as good as it was under Anarumo, and that should help his acclimation to the Colts, should he sign as a free agent with Indianapolis.
The veteran wouldn't be expensive, either. Teams won't be willing to overpay for an interior defensive player who will be 32 years old before the 2026 season begins, but he is the kind of player Indy needs, especially as a rotational piece with Grover Stewart. According to Spotrac, the defensive tackle's market value is $3.9 million a season, which Indianapolis can easily afford.
Even though the Indianapolis Colts were able to re-sign quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce, their cap hits in the first years of their new deals, which are 2026, are relatively low. Again, according to Spotrac, Indy has $27,578,155 left to spend this offseason, enough to bring in more low-budget free agents.
Some of that money will need to go toward signing draft picks and filling out the practice squad, but enough would be left to add DJ Reader or an edge rusher like Joey Bosa. Reader would be the wider choice of those two because even though he is older, he has stayed healthier. In the past three seasons, he has missed five total games.
Signing Reader to even a one-year deal is going to mean that the Colts' run defense stays at a high level and the front gets pressure while the cornerback group of Kenny Moore, Sauce Gardner, and Charvarius Ward provides shutdown pass coverage. Lou Anarumo's defense could go from meh in 2025 to very good in 2026.