A former Clemson standout has found his new NFL home.

Veteran defensive tackle D.J. Reader is signing with the New York Giants, according to multiple reports.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, it’s a two-year, $12.5 million deal where he can make up to $15.5 million through incentives. He will make $6.25 million this season if he plays in 17 games.

The Giants recently hosted Reader for a free agent visit. The signing comes after the team traded away former Clemson star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals last month.

Reader has spent the last two seasons with the Detroit Lions after signing a two-year deal with the team in March 2024. The 31-year-old was ranked by Pro Football Focus as the best remaining free agent, regardless of position.

After being drafted by the Houston Texans in the fifth round (166th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft, Reader spent the first four seasons of his NFL career (2016-19) in Houston before playing four years with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2020-23 and then the past two with the Lions.

During his first year in Detroit in 2024, Reader started all 15 games he played in, tallying 23 total tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks, eight quarterback hits and one pass defended. In 2025, the 6-foot-3, 330-pounder started all 17 games for the Lions, recording 28 total tackles and four quarterback hits.

Over his 10-year NFL career, Reader has posted 328 total tackles, 27 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks to go with 56 quarterback hits, nine passes defended, three fumble recoveries and one forced fumble across 137 games (128 starts).

Reader played four seasons at Clemson (2012-15), where he recorded 145 tackles, nine tackles for loss and five sacks. The former two-sport athlete became the second Tiger to letter on top-25 football and baseball teams in one academic year (2012-13).