The New York Giants are gearing up for a franchise-altering weekend as the 2026 NFL Draft looms closer. However, reports suggest the Giants will be making moves after draft weekend, too. After trading Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals, D.J. Reader could be set to become a G-Men.
The Giants have set a bold plan for the 2026 NFL Draft. They were left with no other choice after trading Lawrence for the 10th overall selection in 2026. With multiple first-round selections comes big responsibilities, and the Giants must make no mistake.
Moreover, they are already planning ahead. New York is projected to receive a compensatory pick in 2027, and that’s why the Giants will wait before signing Reader.
According to New York Post, the Giants will wait until after the 2026 NFL Draft to sign D.J. Reader. The veteran defensive tackle visited the organization recently, but New York will wait in order to protect the compensatory pick formula.
D.J. Reader is reportedly signing with NY Giants in 2026
Giants’ compensatory pick in 2027
Ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, the league awarded 33 compensatory picks to 15 franchises. The Giants were not one of them. However, that’s projected to change in 2027, with Wan’Dale Robinson’s departure in free agency being the key factor.
The Giants’ additions haven’t offset Robinson’s exit, and thus New York is projected to receive a compensatory fourth-round selection. Signing Reader ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft could alter the complex formula behind the NFL’s compensatory pick system and cost John Harbaugh and company a pivotal Day 3 selection.
Giants have time
Plus, it’s not like the Giants are in any hurry to sign Reader in April. Indeed, they must fill the void left by Lawrence’s trade, but the 2026 NFL season won’t start until September, and the G-Men trust a seasoned player like Reader can adapt to a new system smoothly.
Still, the Giants can’t afford to lose too much time, because anything can happen and another team might pounce on Reader if they don’t.
