After a blockbuster trade in which the Cincinnati Bengals acquired three-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence from the New York Giants, it appears the two teams will be linked throughout the 2026 NFL season.
In acquiring Lawrence, the Bengals gave up a significant asset with the No. 10 pick, which the Giants then used to draft Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa. However, trading Lawrence to Cincinnati left the Giants with a hole on the interior of their defensive line, and they have now found his replacement as they signed a former Bengals starter.
New York Giants Sign Former Cincinnati Bengals Defender
NFL insider Jordan Schulz reported the New York Giants have signed former Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle D.J. Reader to a two-year, $12.5 million contract.
D.J. Reader was an integral part of the Bengals’ defense that helped them make two deep playoff runs. In four seasons with the Bengals, Reader started 44 regular-season games and seven playoff games. Following the 2023 season, Reader left as a free agent and signed a two-year, $22 million deal with the Detroit Lions.
Reader, 31, has remained productive throughout his career, and has totaled over $78 million in career earnings. While his production is not as strong as Dexter Lawrence’s, Bengals fans are well aware of the impact Reader can have on a defensive line.
As a member of the Lions, Reader earned a 68.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, which ranked him 30th among qualified interior defensive linemen. In his last season with the Bengals, Reader earned an 82.2 overall grade, which was the 11th-best mark that season. Meanwhile, new Bengals defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence had a 75.6 overall grade, which was ninth-best in the NFL last season despite dealing with injuries in what many believed was a down season for the Pro Bowl lineman.
Cincinnati Bengals Defense
Aside from adding Lawrence, the Bengals also signed starters Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook and Jonathan Allen in free agency. Despite this, Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport does not have an optimistic outlook for Cincinnati’s defense as he ranked them No. 28 in the NFL.
Davenport wrote:
“Last year, the Cincinnati Bengals had a potent offense—and an awful defense.
The Bengals made a concerted effort to change that in 2026—especially along the defensive front. Boye Mafe got $20 million a season to replace Trey Hendrickson on the edge. Cincinnati sent the 10th overall pick to New York for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. Veteran tackle Jonathan Allen was signed, and Texas A&M edge-rusher Cashius Howell came to the Queen City via a second-rounder.
But Mafe had just two sacks last year in Seattle and saw his snaps scaled back. Lawrence is coming off arguably the worst season of his career. Allen is past his prime. Howell fell to Day 2 due to concerns about his arm length.
In other words, Cincinnati’s new-look defensive line is by no means a sure thing. And if that line isn’t markedly better in 2026, a shaky linebacker corps and a secondary that allowed the seventh-most passing yards per game a year ago is going to be exposed—again.”
Giants Sign Former Bengals Starter to a $12.5 Million Contract