The Giants may have taken a big swing this offseason when they moved Dexter Lawrence II to the Cincinnati Bengals and came away with the No. 10 pick in the NFL Draft, eventually using Round 1 on Francis Mauigoa. It was the kind of deal that can make a front office look sharp or reckless depending on how the new pieces hold up.
One early reason for optimism is D.J. Reader. Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay is already labeling the Giants’ $12.5 million free-agent addition a “steal,” pointing to the kind of run defense presence New York has been chasing.
“Considering Reader has already pitched in a strong run-stuffing tackle for a loss and a sack during one of Big Blue's training camp sessions, he's clearly on his way to having a successful 2026 campaign,” Kay writes. “If New York fields a quality rush defense for the first time in over a half-decade, Reader will be a big reason for this improvement.”
Reader, a 6-foot-3, 330-pound defensive tackle, is 32 and entering his 10th NFL season. He has played for three teams, including a four-year stint with the Bengals that produced three sacks, 123 total tackles, seven tackles for loss and 20 quarterback hits.
His two seasons with the Lions added three sacks, 51 tackles, four tackles for loss and 12 quarterback hits.
He’s not being sold as a superstar replacement for Lawrence, but the early signs are encouraging. If Reader keeps flashing the same run-stopping bite he’s shown in camp, the Giants may end up feeling a lot better about how they handled one of their biggest offseason moves.
In Other News...
Giants May Have Already Eased One Big Concern For Jaxson Dart
The Giants have spent training camp giving their offensive line something every young quarterback wants but rarely gets: continuity. Andrew Thomas, Jermaine Eluemunor, Jon Runyan Jr., rookie Francis Mauigoa and John Michael Schmitz have stayed together as the first unit, and the second-team group has reportedly remained mostly intact as well. For a team trying to settle Jaxson Dart into his new surroundings, that kind of stability matters, especially when it comes to the protection in front of him.
Dart enters a roster still sorting through other moving parts, but the line gives him a cleaner starting point than many rookies get. A lower sack rate is always part of the conversation for any young passer, and the Giants have at least made one important area feel less volatile by leaning on experienced blockers and keeping the same mix in place through camp. Whether that carries over once the games start is still the real test, but for now, one of the biggest concerns around Dart looks a little less daunting. [Read more 🡒]
Micah McFadden Has A Real Chance To Change The Giants Defense
Micah McFaddens return to the Giants has been one of the quieter camp developments, but it is starting to look like a meaningful one. After fully recovering from the season-ending Lisfranc injury that cut short his 2025 campaign, he re-signed on a one-year deal and has spent training camp showing the kind of form that made him part of the conversation in the first place. For a defense still sorting out its linebacker picture, that matters.
McFadden is working in a crowded room with Tremaine Edmunds, Arvell Reese and rookie Jack Kelly all in the mix for snaps, and that competition gives the Giants options if he keeps building momentum. His preseason return will be the next real checkpoint, and what he does there could tell the team plenty about how much more stable and disruptive this unit can become. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Kicking Battle Is Suddenly Leaning Toward An Unexpected Name
The Giants kicking competition has taken a sharp turn in camp, and it now has the feel of a real job battle rather than just an open audition. Undrafted free agent Dominic Zvada has been pushing the pace in practice, while second-year kicker Ben Sauls has been right there with him, giving the coaching staff a pair of legs to evaluate as the preseason opener approaches.
John Harbaugh acknowledged both kickers for the way they handled the moment, which only adds to the intrigue around a competition that was already trending toward the unexpected. With other players making their cases and a few injury situations still being monitored, the kicking picture is one of the more closely watched items before the games start counting for real. [Read more 🡒]