8 dream free agents for the Minnesota Vikings in 2024
By Luke Parrish
Vikings Dream Free Agent No. 2
D.J. Reader - IDL
2023 Team: Cincinnati Bengals
Similar to Christian Wilkins, the Vikings should be all over D.J. Reader when the free agency period opens. Reader projects to be a bit cheaper than Wilkins - Spotrac projects him to make roughly $15 million annually - but he is still a very good player in the middle of the line.
Reader has not put up the same numbers as Wilkins or the other big-name defensive tackles in the NFL, but he has surely earned his stay.
He can be a force against the run while not being much of a pass-rushing threat and bring value to a team that needs to beef up the trenches.
With just 9.5 career sacks and an injury history that has limited him to just 24 games over the past two seasons, Reader may be available for even cheaper than his current projection.
Minnesota can certainly dream bigger than what Reader offers, but they need defensive line help more than anything, and if they can find a bargain in free agency, they have to take the chance.
If the Vikings get put in a position where they have their hands tied and have to reach for one in the draft, it could be a disaster in the long run.
His box scores and career stats are not going to blow anybody away, but Reader is a very solid defensive tackle who would be a clear and immediate upgrade for Minnesota.