DJ Reader has officially departed the Detroit Lions in free agency, with the tackle signing a deal with the New York Giants following a meeting with the NFC East team.
It felt inevitable that Reader would walk in free agency, especially with how little the Lions were looking to spend on help for their defense this offseason. That, coupled with the fact that they took some defensive line help late in the draft and signed some potential depth pieces for their D-line as UDFAs, meant it was only a matter of time before Reader leaving was official.
The deal, which is reportedly worth two-years, $12.5 million per NFL insider Jordan Schultz, was never in the cards for Detroit to match. Despite his valuable contributions last season, it just would've been a weirdly high payday for the Lions to make after they were cutting corners everywhere else.
Lions officially lose Reader in free agency to Giants
Detroit, by way of earning a 4th place schedule for the 2026 season, will be facing the Giants at home. Last year, they were almost pushed to the brink by New York and quarterback Jameis Winston, who exposed the Lions' porous run defense and questionable pass defense. Jahmyr Gibbs' heroics landed Detroit a win in that contest, but it was too close for comfort.
Without Reader, and also without Roy Lopez, Detroit's defensive line is looking a bit thin ahead of training camp and the preseason. Tyleik Williams, Alim McNeill, Mekhi Wingo, and rookie Skylar Gill-Howard stick out from the pack, while the Lions are also probably hoping for a bounce back season from a now-healthy Levi Onwuzurike.
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Beyond that...there's not much reliable veteran help. Detroit has to hope one of their rookie signings and selections pans out as decent depth up front. Gill-Howard is a bit undersized, though, and Tyre West is more of a pass rusher.
Reader will get his shot at some sort of "revenge" against Detroit this season, although we don't know when. The Giants could be a sleeper team this year in the NFC, though, so while the 2025 contest against them was uncharacteristically tight, their 2026 game could be genuinely competitive. Adding Reader makes that all the more possible.
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