Source: Bengals reach 4-year deal with DT D.J. Reader

Defensive tackle D.J. Reader has agreed to a four-year, $53 million contract with the Cincinnati Bengals, a source confirmed to ESPN.

Reader, a fifth-round pick in the 2016 draft, comes to Cincinnati after four seasons in Houston. During his time with the Texans, he tallied 6.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss.

His acquisition bucks the Bengals' pattern of treading carefully during free agency. Reader's average annual salary of $13.25 million is the highest for a Bengals free agent in at least the last five years, according to ESPN Stats and Info. As of Tuesday afternoon, he also becomes the fourth-highest paid player on the team's roster.

The Bengals have been the NFL's worst rushing defense in recent years. Since 2018, the Bengals have allowed the most rushing yards in the NFL. Last season, Cincinnati surrendered a league-high 2,382 rushing yards.

Reader gives Cincinnati a young defensive tackle to build around. Geno Atkins, an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and one of the Bengals' top pass rushers, will be 32 at the start of the season.

The news of Reader's agreement was first reported by the Houston Chronicle.

Reader gave the Texans an immediate presence in the center of the defensive line, earning praise from J.J. Watt and others on the defense.

Reader, who turns 26 in July, not only excels at stopping the run, but Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said he also "gives us some juice in the passing game." He had 36 pressures in 2019, according to Pro Football Focus.

In 15 games last season for the Texans, Reader had 2.5 sacks and 52 tackles. He was named a Pro Bowl alternate. In 61 games over four seasons, he has 6.5 sacks and 154 tackles.

ESPN's Sarah Barshop and Ben Baby contributed to this report.