EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants hosted veteran defensive tackle D.J. Reader on a free agent visit Monday. The 31-year-old, who turns 32 this season, stands as the best defensive tackle left on the open market.
The Giants have yet to make a major splash this offseason on a unit that clearly needs reinforcements. They lost both Rakeem Nunez-Roches and D.J. Davidson in free agency while adding only journeyman Sam Roberts so far. Reader started all 17 games for the Detroit Lions in 2025 and brings 137 career regular-season games with 128 starts to the table.
His numbers dipped slightly in two years in Detroit. PFF gave him a 68.9 overall defensive grade in 2025, the first time since his early career he sat in the 60s. Yet those marks still beat what the current Giants interior offers on most Sundays. Reader’s size and experience could plug holes right away. The team also hosted veteran Shelby Harris on a visit back in late March, signaling a clear push for proven depth up front.
Reader arrived in Detroit on a two-year, $22 million deal. The Giants might hold off signing him until after the 2026 NFL Draft to protect their compensatory pick formula. That move makes business sense, especially with the club navigating reported trade-request drama involving star Dexter Lawrence.
Reader’s career path tells the story. A fifth-round pick out of Clemson by the Houston Texans in 2016, he spent four solid years there before four more with the Cincinnati Bengals and the last two anchoring the Lions’ front. He logged 28 tackles in 17 starts last season. The Giants’ run defense has been a weekly headache, and Reader’s presence would force opponents to account for a true 330-pound space-eater in the A-gap.
You could picture the difference on third-and-short. Instead of a guard reaching the second level untouched, Reader stones the play at the line. The visit comes at the perfect time. The Giants still hold early draft capital and could pair Reader with a rookie or another veteran addition. Fans who watched the line get pushed around last year will welcome any move that adds size and attitude.
Bottom line: Reader may not be the flashy splash, but he gives New York exactly what it lacks right now — a battle-tested veteran who knows how to win in the trenches. The next few days will tell if the Giants pull the trigger or keep shopping. Either way, this visit shows they finally recognize the problem.
