The New York Giants have made a critical move to fill the void left by Dexter Lawrence, signing veteran defensive tackle D.J. Reader to a two-year, $12.5 million deal, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz.

The decision comes after the Giants traded the three-time Pro Bowler—a 6-foot-4, 340-pound force—to secure the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. New head coach John Harbaugh, who never got to coach Lawrence, described him not as a franchise cornerstone but as a "middle stone," acknowledging the immense impact of the interior defender. Without an immediate replacement available in that draft range, the Giants had to get creative to patch a significant hole in their defense.

Enter D.J. Reader, a 6-foot-3, 330-pound veteran with a decade of experience. At 31, Reader has started 128 of 137 career games, bringing reliability and size to the trenches. While no single player can fully replicate Lawrence's elite play, Reader—alongside recently signed DT Shelby Harris—will help shore up the Giants' run defense in 2026.

This signing marks a step forward, but the Giants are likely still hunting for a long-term solution. For now, fans can watch how this retooled defensive line gels, knowing that every jersey in the stands represents a team building for the future.