The Detroit Lions expected to say goodbye to defensive tackle DJ Reader this offseason, and his departure via free agency is now all but official via a new report.
Reader is heading east to join the New York Giants as a replacement for Dexter Lawrence, whom that franchise traded to the Cincinnati Bengals over the weekend in exchange for the No. 10 pick in the upcoming NFL draft.
The Giants initially wanted to sign Reader and pair him with Dexter Lawrence, but Lawrence is now on the Bengals following the
“The Giants are are reportedly expected to sign veteran DT D.J. Reader after the draft, as it will protect the comp pick formula, per @NYPost_Schwartz,” Doug Rush of FanSided posted to X on Sunday, April 19. “The Giants initially wanted to sign Reader and pair him with Dexter Lawrence, but Lawrence is now on the Bengals following the weekend’s trade. Reader made a visit with the Giants last week, and is now expected to sign with the team once the draft is concluded.”
Defensive Tackle DJ Reader Gone After 2 Years With Lions
GettyDetroit Lions defensive tackle DJ Reader.
Reader, a 10-year veteran who will play his age-32 campaign next season, spent the past two years as a member of the Lions.
He started all 32 regular-season games in which he appeared, tallying 51 combined tackles, including four tackles for loss, 12 QB hits, three sacks and one pass breakup.
Reader finished 2025 as the 30th-ranked interior defender out of 134 players who saw enough snaps to qualify at the position, per Pro Football Focus. He produced 20 total pressures, 17 hurries and 15 stops.
Detroit inked Reader to a two-year contract worth $22 million in March 2024 after four seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. He spent the first four campaigns of his career with the Houston Texans, who selected him in the fifth round out of Clemson in 2016.
Spotrac projects Reader’s market value at slightly under $8 million total over a new two-year deal.
Lions Will Look for Leap From Tyleik Williams, Bounce-Back Year From Alim McNeil to Improve DT Position
GettyDetroit Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill.
The Lions spent a first-round pick in 2025 (No. 28 overall) on defensive tackle Tyleik Williams out of Ohio State.
He appeared in 17 games, earning 10 starts, during his rookie campaign and finished ranked 51st at his position last season. Williams produced 19 pressures, 17 hurries, 12 stops, four pass breakups, three quarterback hits, two tackles for loss and one sack.
Williams will presumably move to a full-time starting role in 2026 alongside four-year starter Alim McNeill, who missed seven games in 2025 after suffering an ACL tear that also cost him the final three contests of 2024. McNeill is under contract on a four-year deal worth $97 million that runs through 2028.
The Lions may attempt to add depth on the interior of the defensive line in this week’s draft, though given the recent level of investment Detroit has made to the position group, it is unlikely the team will do so with either of its top two selections.
Detroit owns pick Nos. 17 and 50 in Rounds 1 and 2, respectively, and then does not select again until Day 3 — No. 118 in Round 4, to be exact. The Lions hold seven picks from the fourth round on and could get more creative there. The first two choices, however, will most likely address the team’s most urgent needs at edge-rusher, left tackle or both.
Lions to Lose Key Defensive Starter to NFC Opponent: Report