D.J. Reader’s path to the Giants did not come down to one pitch. John Harbaugh helped sell him on the move, but the veteran defensive tackle said defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson was part of the pull too.
Reader signed a two-year, $12.5 million deal with New York in May, giving the Giants a needed answer in the middle after they traded Dexter Lawrence. The move came shortly after the 2026 NFL Draft, and Reader said the timing helped him land in what he viewed as the right spot.
On an episode of the Giants Huddle podcast hosted by John Schmeelk, Reader explained how Wilson fit into the decision.
"Me and Dennard [Wilson] a couple offseasons before... tried to hook up in Tennessee and try to figure things out," Reader said."So, it ended up working out this time and working its way into fruition."
Reader said Wilson had tried to bring him to the Tennessee Titans a couple of years ago, though that never came together. The most likely reference is the 2024 offseason, when Reader was last on the market and Wilson was in Tennessee.
Instead, Reader signed with the Detroit Lions on a two-year deal and spent the last two seasons there before reaching free agency again. This time, the fit finally came together with the Giants.
He also credited Wilson for his work with pass defenses in previous stops with the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee. And he said he appreciated being able to wait until after the 2026 NFL Draft before choosing his next team.
For the Giants, the appeal is obvious. Reader is not an All-Pro-level name, but he brings real value as a run stuffer, and New York needed help after losing one of the league’s best defensive tackles. He’ll now anchor the middle for a defense that needs to get sturdier against the run, with plenty of front-seven talent around him.
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