The New York Giants are wasting no time in their quest to rebuild their defensive line after the blockbuster trade that sent star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals. The latest addition? Veteran run-stuffer D.J. Reader, who inked a two-year, $12.5 million deal on Tuesday, as reported by NFL Network.
This move is the clearest signal yet that new head coach and football czar John Harbaugh is dead serious about fixing what was one of the league's worst run defenses. After shipping Lawrence to the Bengals for the 10th overall pick—used on guard Francis Mauigoa, who won't be helping on defense—Harbaugh is assembling a by-committee approach in the trenches.
Reader brings a wealth of experience to a unit that desperately needs it. At 32 years old, he's started 128 games over his 10-year career, including all 17 games last season with the Detroit Lions. That durability is exactly what the Giants need after losing a generational talent like Lawrence, who had grown frustrated with the losing culture in East Rutherford.
But there are questions. Reader's Pro Football Focus run defense grades have slipped to 61.7 and 62.6 over the past two seasons, a noticeable drop from his 75.3 mark in 2023 with the Bengals. As a pass rusher, he's been more consistent, grading 79.1, 64.5, and 72.6 from 2023-25, with pressure totals of 34, 22, and 20 respectively.
Harbaugh hasn't stopped there. Before the Lawrence trade, he added Sam Roberts to join incumbents Roy Robertson-Harris (79 career starts) and Darius Alexander. After the deal, he signed Leki Fotu (26 starts) and Shelby Harris (89 starts). The only defensive lineman selected in the draft was sixth-round pick Bobby Jamison-Travis.
The Giants' win total for the 2026-27 season is set at 7.5 games on DraftKings, suggesting oddsmakers are cautiously optimistic about the rebuild. But with a patchwork defensive line led by an aging Reader, the pressure is on Harbaugh to prove his committee approach can work. One thing is certain: after a miserable stretch for the franchise, the Giants are betting big on experience over star power.