The Green Bay Packers have undergone a significant defensive overhaul with the hiring of Jonathan Gannon as defensive coordinator. As the team transitions into a new scheme, all signs point to a 3-4 defensive front taking center stage in 2026.
Head coach Matt LaFleur’s decision to promote DeMarcus Covington to outside linebackers coach, defensive run-game coordinator, and assistant head coach—shifting him away from his previous role as defensive line coach—further underscores the schematic pivot. In a 3-4 alignment, the nose tackle becomes the literal anchor of the run defense, and the Packers currently lack a proven veteran in that role.
A glance at the existing depth chart reveals the urgency. Jonathan Ford and Nazir Stackhouse are the primary internal candidates, yet neither has produced the numbers to inspire confidence. Ford has recorded just 15 total tackles and one tackle for loss across 13 career games. Stackhouse, as a rookie, managed only 12 total tackles in 13 appearances. Those modest totals simply do not project the kind of disruptive presence required at the heart of a new 3-4 front.
Enter D.J. Reader—the clear best available solution. The 10-year veteran has suited up for the Houston Texans, Cincinnati Bengals, and Detroit Lions. Across 137 career games (128 starts), he has tallied 328 total tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 56 quarterback hits, and 12.5 sacks. At 6’3″ and 330 pounds, the Clemson product is the prototypical run-stuffing interior force Green Bay desperately needs.
Reader’s consistency is backed by his Pro Football Focus grades, which paint a reliable picture of steady production even as he approaches his 32nd birthday in July:
| Season | Overall Grade | Pass Rush Grade | Run Defense Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 68.9 | 72.6 | 61.7 |
| 2024 | 66.5 | 64.5 | 62.6 |
| 2023 | 82.2 | 79.1 | 75.3 |
| 2022 | 85.2 | 84.1 | 70.8 |
| 2021 | 79.5 | 68.3 | 77.2 |
| 2020 | 69.6 | 60.7 | 69.3 |
| 2019 | 85.4 | 72.5 | 85.1 |
| 2018 | 76.1 | 62.0 | 77.1 |
| 2017 | 79.2 | 72.2 | 76.4 |
| 2016 | 70.1 | 65.6 | 65.2 |
While his peak years may be behind him, Reader’s body of work shows he remains a rock-solid option against the run and a credible pass-rush threat on the interior. Signing him would instantly upgrade a position of need without forcing the Packers to rely exclusively on young, unproven talent.
Free agency is now entering its third week, making Reader an even more realistic target. Spotrac projects a modest two-year, $7.7 million deal ($3.9 million per season)—a bargain that would have virtually zero cap impact. OverTheCap currently lists Green Bay with approximately $22 million in available space, leaving plenty of room to get a deal done and still address other roster needs.
Adding Reader does not preclude drafting another defensive tackle later; it simply ensures the Packers won’t be forced to throw untested youngsters into the fire right away. In a division where physical, smash-mouth football still wins games, a 330-pound veteran nose tackle who has spent a decade wrecking offensive lines is exactly the kind of player who makes opponents take notice.
Packers Nation, this is the move that could redefine the defensive identity overnight. A low-cost, high-impact veteran who plugs the biggest hole in the new 3-4 front. The NFC North has officially been warned.
