Giants Fans Must Know This Shocking Fact About DJ Reader

The New York Giants have completely overhauled their defensive line this offseason. Gone is Dexter Lawrence, and in are DJ Reader, Shelby Harris and rookie Bobby Jamison-Travis, all of whom will be tasked with repairing the Giants' awful run defense.

Lawrence had a subpar campaign for New York in 2025, finishing with 31 tackles, a half of a sack and eight quarterback hits. The Giants were still able to trade him for the 10th overall pick in the NFL Draft, nabbing offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa with the selection.

Considering the work New York was able to do on the interior over the last several months and the addition of a mauler in Mauigoa, the Lawrence trade could end up being a major win for Big Blue.

Reader is obviously the biggest name now in the Giants' defensive tackle room. He is well known as one of the league's best run stuffers, and he will be the No. 1 interior defender on New York's depth chart heading into 2026.

The 32-year-old does not post major numbers, but he doesn't have to. His presence in the trenches is palpable, and Giants fans will love hearing this one amazing fact about their new starting DT.

Reader led all NFL defensive tackles in double-team rate last season, coming in at 71.7 percent. Clearly, offenses know that the 6-foot-3, 330-pound behemoth is a major threat, so they gameplan against him.

The wildest aspect of that is Reader is not a pass rusher. He has amassed a grand total of 12.5 sacks over 10 NFL seasons, and he didn't log a single sack in 2025. He is being doubled simply because of his prowess as a run defender, which should be music to the ears of Giants fans who watched their team get punctured on the ground all last season.

Is Reader the same dominant force he was a few years ago? No, but he clearly remains someone that draws a whole lot of attention from offenses, and that should absolutely help New York's pass rushes, too.

The Giants didn't just add help in the trenches, either. They also signed linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and selected fellow linebacker Arvell Reese with the fifth overall pick of the draft, which should also help bolster New York against the run.

Yes, moving Lawrence hurt, but it's entirely possible that the G-Men will be better off in their current situation as they move into the new season.

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