31-Year-Old Veteran Nose Tackle Taking His Talents to the Giants

With the second and third waves of NFL free agency starting and impactful depth players beginning to come off the market, teams looking to add a veteran voice and presence at positions of need have had to start getting their ducks in order before their free agent targets get signed. One of the notable veteran defensive talents remaining on the market was 31-year-old veteran nose tackle D.J. Reader, whose big-body presence has made him a formidable piece on any team’s defensive line looking to bolster its success against the run. Following reports of Reader making visits over the past couple of weeks with key contenders such as the Ravens and others, the 31-year-old was expected to sign with a team following the 2026 NFL Draft. Now, it has been settled, as Reader and the New York Giants have agreed to terms, sending the veteran nose tackle to a team that is ready to compete for the NFL Playoffs next season.

Reader, 31 years old, played his collegiate ball at Clemson University prior to being drafted in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans. Over the course of his 10-year career, the 31-year-old has spent time with the Texans and Bengals for four seasons and, most recently, the past two seasons with the Detroit Lions. The veteran nose tackle, who is six-foot-three and weighs 330 pounds, has built his NFL success largely on his physical, smart mentality and run-stopping ability, even if his impact may not always pop off the stat sheet and can go under the radar at times. However, with his physical presence on the defensive line, Reader’s effect on opposing teams’ rushing success is immediately felt, as he is often one of the most double-teamed players as well, shown by being doubled on 58.4% of rush snaps last season, with the next closest player being former Giant Dexter Lawrence at 55.5%. With Reader joining the Giants, he’ll have the opportunity to pair up with Brian Burns & Abdul Carter on the defensive line as they aim to become one of the fiercest front sevens in the league next season.

Last season with the Lions, Reader continued an excellent trend that has made him an attractive name for teams looking to bulk up on the defensive line, and that has to do with his availability on the field. It’s often said that the best ability is availability, and that is exactly what Reader has provided over the past two seasons in Detroit, having played in 32 of 34 games. While Reader is known for his run-stopping ability, the North Carolina native actually had a slightly better pass-rush grade in 2025 at 72.6, compared to his run-defense grade of 61.7, along with an overall grade of 68.9, according to PFF. Now that Reader will be suiting up in a Giants’ uniform next season, both Reader and New York are hopeful that he can continue to have a strong impact and help provide another veteran voice within the locker room as the Giants aim to chase a playoff run in 2026.