D.J. Reader EXITS the Detroit Lions. Time for the YOUNG BUCKS to step up.

Locked On Lions - Daily Podcast On The Detroit Lions

Locked On Podcast Network

Nfl Draft, Football, Daily Podcast, Detroit Lions Football, Nfl Football, Football Podcast, Nfl, Pro Football, Detroit Lions, Salary Cap, Lions Football, Podcast, Sports

4.1 • 680 Ratings

🗓️ 5 May 2026

⏱️ 28 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Detroit Lions make bold offseason moves as D.J. Reader exits for the New York Giants, signaling a new youth movement on defense. Matt Dery assesses Reader’s underwhelming tenure in Detroit and what his departure means for an evolving Lions interior. Can rising talents like Alim McNeill, Tyleik Williams, and recently drafted Skyler Gil Howard fill the void and solidify the trenches? NFL analyst Dalton Wasserman joins to grade Brad Holmes’ draft strategy, praising the Lions’ physical, win-now picks like tackle Blake Miller and edge rusher Derrick Moore. The discussion features sleepers Keith Abney and Gil Howard, competition along the defensive line, and comparisons between Miller and Monroe Freeling. Insights on Jimmy Rolder’s role at linebacker, Isaiah Pacheco’s fit after the David Montgomery trade, and NFC North rivals’ draft hauls round out this jam-packed breakdown. Are the Detroit Lions positioned for another NFC North title?

Transcript

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0:00.0	We knew this was coming with the DJ Reader era officially over in Detroit.
0:10.1	You are Locked on Lions, your daily Detroit Lions podcast.
0:17.6	Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day.
0:23.9	What's happening everybody?
0:25.1	Matt Derry with you, it is a Tuesday edition of Lockdown Lions, Lockdown Podcast Network,
0:29.2	the number one sports podcast network.
0:31.3	Thanks for making us your first listen, being with us,
0:33.4	wherever you get your podcast, The Great.
0:36.0	Dalton Wasserman is going to join us coming up momentarily, NFL and college football analyst
0:40.9	and co-hosts of the preferred walk-on college football show.
0:45.6	Let's get right into it, though.
0:47.0	News of the Day.
0:48.1	We knew this was coming.
0:49.4	We saw this coming a mile away as the Lions really did not have any interest in bringing back
0:55.1	defensive tackle and nose tackle DJ Reader after two years in Detroit.
1:00.7	And Reader was a solid player, came over from Cincinnati, helped plug some holes
1:05.8	along the interior of that defensive line. But at age 31, the Lions were not going to pay
1:10.7	any kind of freight to keep him.
1:12.6	And today, the New York Football Giants made it official. They've been talking to him for a few weeks.
1:17.7	But the D-Tackle is going to the Giants on a two-year reported $12.5 million deal.
1:24.1	Lions were not paying over $6 million a year for DJ Reader. They paid $11 million a year
1:29.6	for the last two years. And quite honestly, while I always think, you can never have enough
	...

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