All articles tagged with #defensive tackle
Former Lions nose tackle DJ Reader has agreed to a two-year, $12.5 million deal with the New York Giants, leaving Detroit after two seasons in which he played 32 of 34 games and posted 51 tackles, 3.0 sacks and 12 QB hits. Detroit lost Roy Lopez in free agency and is counting on internal options like Alim McNeill and first-round pick Tyleik Williams to fill the void ahead of training camp.
After trading Dexter Lawrence, the New York Giants signed veteran defensive tackle D.J. Reader to a two-year deal worth $12.5 million in base salary and up to $15.5 million with incentives. Reader, who turns 32 in July, spent 2025 with the Lions, starting all 17 games and recording 28 tackles and four QB hits, adding depth to the Giants’ trenches; over 10 seasons he has 12.5 sacks, 27 tackles for loss and 56 QB hits across teams in Houston, Cincinnati and Detroit.
The New York Giants signed veteran DT D.J. Reader to a two-year, $12.5 million contract (about $5.25 million guaranteed in 2026) to anchor the interior after trading Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. Reader, 31, has appeared in 137 NFL games (128 starts) and will join a reworked line headlined by newcomers Shelby Harris, Leki Fotu and Bobby Jamison-Travis, with Roy Robertson-Harris and Darius Alexander returning from last year.
The New York Giants signed veteran defensive tackle Shelby Harris, who is entering his 12th NFL season and appeared in 17 games for the Browns last year, as they continue to shore up the interior line after the 2026 draft; they remain linked to other veteran DTs and a possible Odell Beckham return.
The Giants say the defensive-tackle position will be deeper by the start of the season after trading Dexter Lawrence, with coach John Harbaugh and GM Joe Schoen indicating more DT additions are coming. They’ve drafted sixth-rounder Bobby Jamison-Travis and are in talks with veteran DT agents, signaling ongoing efforts to bolster the interior line.
The New York Giants used a sixth-round pick on Bobby Jamison-Travis, a 6-foot-3-plus, 328-pound defensive tackle from Auburn with JUCO roots, aiming to bolster interior run defense after trading Dexter Lawrence. The Giants hosted him for a visit and indicated he was their top late-round DT target, praising his size, length and power. Analysts say he has NFL size and anchor but may need development to improve block shedding and pass rush upside.
Chicago Bears used the 213th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to take Georgia Tech defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg, a 6’3”, 310-pound interior lineman with a perfect 10.0 Relative Athletic Score who emerged as a disruptive run defender after transferring from Penn State to Georgia Tech, earning 2024 All-ACC honors and projected for upside as a raw yet high-ceiling interior defender.
The Bengals closed their 2026 draft by selecting Navy defensive tackle Landon Robinson at No. 226, capping a seven-player class. Robinson is a 5’11”, 294-pound interior pass rusher with 14.5 career sacks and 18.5 TFLs, and he brings leadership from a military family plus notable special-teams experience. Cincinnati views him as a potential depth rotational lineman who can rush on obvious passing downs while contributing on special teams; his size and small-school background were concerns, but his athletic profile (RAS) and the franchise’s history of finding late-round DT gems give him a path to the roster. His selection was tied to the Pat Tillman Scholar program, announced by 2022 Tillman Scholar Margo Darragh; his Navy teammate Eli Heidenreich went a few picks later to the Steelers.
New York selected Auburn defensive tackle Bobby Jamison-Travis with the 186th overall pick in Round 6 of the 2026 NFL Draft, after previously trading up to No. 74 for Malachi Fields; Jamison-Travis, a 6-5, 335-pound lineman, is praised for length and motor but is considered a developmental prospect who could land on the practice squad as he develops.
Detroit used the 205th pick in the sixth round to select Skyler Gill-Howard, a Texas Tech defensive tackle coming off an ankle injury, viewed as a low-risk flyer with run-stopping potential and improving pass-rush ability. His spot on the roster hinges on where Levi Onwuzurike lines up, potentially pitting him against Mekhi Wingo for the DT4 role. Gill-Howard’s winding college path (Upper Iowa → NIU → Texas Tech) and injury recovery are key factors. The pick addresses little of the top need list and earns a C+ grade as a speculative depth addition rather than a necessity.
The Detroit Lions used the 205th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to select defensive tackle Skyler Gill-Howard, a 6-0, 280-pound lineman who transitioned from linebacker to the interior line after gaining more than 50 pounds in four months at Northern Illinois, finishing his college career at Texas Tech with strong accolades (52 tackles, 5.0 sacks in 2024). Viewed as a rotational three-technique with quickness and burst, Gill-Howard is expected to compete for a interior role; analysts praise his mindset and leverage-based style, with Tim Twentyman and Dane Brugler offering measured optimism, and Gill-Howard citing Aaron Donald as his inspiration.
Green Bay traded a fifth-round pick to Tampa Bay to move up seven spots and draft Missouri DT Chris McClellan at No. 77 in the 2026 NFL Draft, a 6-foot-3, 313-pound versatile lineman whose college production (48 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 6 sacks) and leadership suggest he can fill multiple interior roles and develop behind veterans like Wyatt, Hargrave and Brooks.
The Giants, Caught in a reshuffled draft after the Texans jumped them for Kayden McDonald and a later trade-up for Malachi Fields, enter Round 6 with three picks (186, 192, 193) and a mix of best-player-available focus and needs at interior DL, interior OL, and CB. BBV’s Round-6 board features interior DL options like Bryson Eason and Tim Keenan III, potential IOL depth with Ar’Maj Reed-Adams, and a high-risk, high-reward cornerback case in Jermod McCoy (medicals clouding his stock); the front office might also pursue veteran DTs such as D.J. Reader, Shelby Harris, or Calais Campbell for immediate impact if they prefer, while Round 6 remains an opportunity for upside and special-teams contributions.
The Vikings selected Iowa State nose tackle Domonique 'Big Citrus' Orange at No. 82 in the 2026 NFL Draft, adding a run-stuffing interior presence to pair with Caleb Banks and Jake Golday to bolster the front seven. At 6'2", 322 pounds, Orange is known for occupying blockers rather than flashing pass rush, having limited sacks in college. The pick earned an instant grade of B, reflecting value in beefing up the trenches despite other needs.
Minnesota drafted Florida DT Caleb Banks at No. 18, a 6-foot-6, 327-pound lineman with elite athletic traits but a recent history of foot injuries; analysts gave mixed initial grades (ranging from A- to C+), underscoring a huge upside if he stays healthy but significant bust risk due to durability concerns in a demanding NFL role.