Report: New York Giants expected to sign D.J. Reader after 2026 NFL draft

The New York Giants dealt three-time Pro Bowl nose tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals over the weekend, and even though they got ample compensation in return (the 10th overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft), the move left a gaping hole in the middle of their defense.

The Giants will be looking to backfill that void via every means available to them, the draft, free agency, and, yes, even another trade.

Paul Schwartz of the New York Post expects the Giants to sign veteran D.J. Reader, who recently visited the team, following the draft to protect the compensatory pick formula.

The Giants have a huge void in the middle of their defense. They were 31st in the league last season in run defense, and that was with Lawrence starting all 17 games.

The defensive tackles on their roster are Darius Alexander, Roy Robertson-Harris, Elijah Chatman, Sam Roberts and Marlon Tuipulotu. Help is needed. Lots of it. Expect the Giants to sign veteran D.J. Reader, making it official after the draft to protect the compensatory pick formula. Reader visited last week, and pairing him with Lawrence was on the table. Not any longer, of course.

The 31-year-old Reader is a solid veteran presence that can be a rotational piece up front on defense. He's not a one-for-one replacement for Lawrence, if there even is one. Reader is a reliable source. In his career, he has averaged nearly 60 percent of the defensive snaps. In his last two seasons with , he averaged 53 percent. The Giants will take that.