With Dexter Lawrence II now in Cincinnati, the New York Giants wasted little time addressing their defensive line — and on Tuesday they made a significant move to fill that void.
The Giants finished the 2025 season as one of the NFC’s weakest teams, going 4–13 and finishing last in the NFC East. Rebuilding on both sides of the ball has been the priority this offseason, and shoring up the interior defensive line was an urgent need after trading away their anchor up front.
The Giants have agreed to sign veteran defensive tackle DJ Reader, coming off two seasons as a starter in Detroit. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the deal is worth two years and $12.5 million, with incentives that could push the total value to
New York pulled the trigger on Reader just weeks after sending Dexter Lawrence II to the Cincinnati Bengals i$ 15.5 million.
Giants Make Big DJ Reader Signing
New York pulled the trigger on Reader just weeks after sending Dexter Lawrence II to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for the 10th overall pick in the NFL Draft. The Giants also drafted defensive tackle Bobby Jamison-Travis in the sixth round and signed veteran Shelby Harris to a one-year deal last week, signaling a full-scale rebuild of the position group. Reader gives the Giants an experienced, proven starter who knows what it takes to play at a high level in the middle of the trenches.
DJ Reader’s NFL Career
Reader was drafted by the Houston Texans in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft out of Clemson. Over his career he has appeared in 105 games, totaling 277 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. He reached Super Bowl LVI with the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2021 season, and posted a career-high three sacks in 2024 with Detroit.
Giants Right Now
New York finished 4–13 last season, fourth in the NFC East. The 2026 NFL season kicks off in September, and the Giants will look to Reader, their new draft class, and a revamped roster to begin turning things around.
