Trey Hendrickson
Getty
The Baltimore Ravens hosted a "top" former teammate of new edge-rusher Trey Hendrickson in 2026 NFL free agency.
They have already acquire Trey Hendrickson to generate pressure off the edge, but the Baltimore Ravens are now showing interest in a “top” free agent who once made Hendrickson’s job easier.
Mammoth veteran nose tackle D.J. Reader visited with the Ravens on Thursday, March 26, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who labelled the 31-year-old “one of the top defenders available.”
Reader and Hendrickson spent three seasons together with Baltimore’s AFC North rivals the Cincinnati Bengals. Including when the 2021 Bengals reached the Super Bowl.
That team’s defense benefited from a complementary double act of sorts up front, between Reader and Hendrickson. The latter put heat on quarterbacks, while Reader focused on playing over the ball, occupying double teams and moving the pile to disrupt the running game.
He continued the same approach with the Detroit Lions the last two seasons, but Reader is still a natural fit for the Ravens as a capable deputy to rising star Travis Jones.
Reader is also a run-stuffing foil for more dynamic two-time Pro Bowler Nnamdi Madubuike, who is looking increasingly capable of staging a full recovery from the neck injury that wrecked his 2025 campaign.
This article will be updated…