Giants closing in on ex-Texans $2 million starter, Dexter Lawrence replacement originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Giants must find an ideal replacement for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence as soon as possible.

Before the start of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Giants surprisingly traded the three-time Pro Bowler to the Cincinnati Bengals for the No. 10 overall pick, which the franchise used to draft offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa.

Fortunately for the Giants, it appears as though they’re closing in on a 31-year-old ex-Houston Texans starter who could be a good fit with New York.

“The New York Giants are expected to sign former Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle DJ Reader,” The Cincinnati Inquirer’s Dave Clark reported Monday.

“The Giants reportedly hosted Reader for a free-agent visit on April 13. In March, the Baltimore Ravens reportedly hosted Reader for a visit.”

Reader, who spent four seasons with the Texans (37 starts and a career-best 52 tackles in 2019-20), and four with the Bengals (51 starts, including the postseason, and 123 total tackles), spent the last two campaigns with the Detroit Lions.

From a pass-rushing perspective, Reader enjoyed the best season of his career in 2024-25, recording three sacks in 15 games with the up-and-coming NFC franchise.

Reader failed to log a sack with the Lions last season, but finished the year with 28 sacks in 17 contests. Although the former fifth-round pick is on Lawrence’s level skill-wise, he’s a viable replacement option for the proven 28-year-old defender.

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