The Giants found another Dexter Lawrence replacement to help the pass rush

TL;DR

The New York Giants have signed defensive tackle D.J. Reader to a two-year deal worth up to $15.5 million, bolstering their defensive line after Dexter Lawrence's departure. This follows the earlier acquisitions of veterans Shelby Harris and Leki Fotu.

Key points

Giants signed D.J. Reader to a two-year deal worth up to $15.5 million
Reader joins veterans Shelby Harris and Leki Fotu on the defensive line
Giants acquired the No. 10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft from the Bengals

New York GiantsCincinnati Bengals

Nov 16, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Detroit Lions defensive tackle DJ Reader (98) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images When the New York Giants swung a stunning pre-draft trade with the Cincinnati Bengals, they acquired the No. 10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, giving the team two picks inside the top ten. The team also created a hole along the interior of its defensive line, in the form of now-departed defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. While New York put those two picks to good use, drafting Ohio State’s Arvell Reese at No. 10 and Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa at No. 10, they have spent some of the time since the 2026 NFL Draft shoring up that defensive line in the wake of Lawrence’s departure. And New York made yet another addition to that group on Tuesday, and it was a big one at that. The first two additions came on April 30, days after the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft. The first acquisition was veteran Shelby Harris, signed to a one-year deal worth up to $3 million. Harris most recently played for the , but began his career with the . Over his career, Harris has played in 146 NFL games — with 89 starts — and recorded 358 total tackles, 58 tackles for a loss, and 28.5 sacks. Later on that day, the Giants signed another veteran, . Fotu was a fourth-round pick by the in the 2020 NFL Draft, and over his career has played in 66 NFL games with 26 starts. Fotu has recorded 103 tackles — 46 of those solo — along with 15 tackles for a loss. But the biggest move came on Tuesday, when the Giants added D.J. Reader to their defensive line. New York signed Reader to a two-year deal worth up to $15.5 million given the “” contained within the contract. As noted by our friends at during the start of NFL free agency, and ahead of the deal between New York and Cincinnati. But with Lawrence on his way to the Bengals, adding more talent to their defensive line became a bigger priority for the Giants’ front office. Last year with the Lions, Reader started all 17 games and played 583 defensive snaps, recording 28 total tackles. This trio will join a defensive front that has some talent on the edges, including last year’s first-round pick , NFL veteran , 2022 first-round pick , and the aforementioned Reese. While New York could not find one player to replace Lawrence on the inside, perhaps these three will.

Q&A

What contract did D.J. Reader sign with the New York Giants?

D.J. Reader signed a two-year deal with the New York Giants worth up to $15.5 million.

Who are the other players the Giants signed to replace Dexter Lawrence?

In addition to D.J. Reader, the Giants signed veterans Shelby Harris and Leki Fotu to strengthen their defensive line.

How did the Giants acquire the No. 10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft?

The Giants acquired the No. 10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft through a pre-draft trade with the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Giants found another Dexter Lawrence replacement to help the pass rush

TL;DR

Key points

Q&A

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