The New York Giants and the Cincinnati Bengals shocked the NFL world on Saturday night, less than a week before the draft begins on Thursday night. Former Giants three-time All-Pro DT Dexter Lawrence was traded to the Bengals for the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 draft, a major shakeup in the top 10 just five days before the pick is due.
For the Giants, the move allows them to add another premier talent on a rookie contract, rather than paying Lawrence is reported contract demands. After a lengthy negotiation, Lawrence wanted out of New York, and the Giants managing to land a top-10 pick in return for a player that had no intention of suiting up for them again is nothing short of excellent business.
However, Lawrence’s absence does create a need at defensive tackle for the Giants. It sounds like there’s already a plan in place to address that.
The New York Giants are Expected to Sign a Veteran Defensive Tackle to Replace Dexter Lawrence
GettyEAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 28: Dexter Lawrence II #97 of the New York Giants runs after intercepting the ball against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first quarter in the game at MetLife Stadium on September 28, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
Post-Lawrence trade, the Giants’ depth chart at defensive tackle is as follows: 2025 third-round pick Darius Alexander joins Roy Robertson-Harris and Sam Roberts as the three main rotation guys up front for New York. I was a big fan of Alexander in last year’s class, and Robertson-Harris has been a good player for the Giants in his time there. But clearly, none of them are the game-changing presence that Lawrence provided.
While one signing can’t replicate the impact the Lawrence carries on the football field, the Giants are attempting to bridge the gap, so to speak, by adding crucial depth to their defensive line. According to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post, New York is expected to sign veteran DT D.J. Reader after the draft.
A former fifth-round pick by the Texans out of Clemson in 2016, Reader has also spent multiple seasons with the Bengals and Lions during his professional career. He’s not the same type of pass rush dynamo that Lawrence provides at the nose tackle position, but he’s as stout a run defender as can be.
The timing of this signing is important, too. By waiting until after the draft — and, presumably, waiting until May 1 — to sign Reader, the Giants are playing the compensatory pick game. Free agents signed after May 1 don’t count against the compensatory pick formula, meaning New York will get more future compensatory picks out of this cycle.
What Can the Giants Do to Replace Dexter Lawrence in the Draft?
Armed with the No. 5 and No. 10 overall picks, the Giants can add two premium talents in the top 10. Unfortunately, there isn’t a defensive tackle worthy of a top-10 pick in this class, but there’s great depth on Day 2 for New York to explore.
Players such as Georgia’s Christen Miller, Florida’s Caleb Banks, Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald, and Clemson’s Peter Woods could all be options early in the second round. Of course, they could wait and add some depth later in Rounds 3 or 4, and options there could include Iowa State’s Domonique Orange, Texas Tech’s Lee Hunter, or Texas A&M’s Albert Regis.
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