A.J. Francis
(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

After being released by the Washington Redskins on Monday, A.J. Francis has reportedly struck a deal with Dave Gettleman’s New York Giants.

The New York Giants continued to buffer up the interior of its defensive line on Wednesday afternoon, signing former Washington Redskins defensive tackle A.J. Francis, as first reported by ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.

Francis played in six games for the Redskins last season, racking up 18 tackles in the middle of Washington’s defensive front. He was released by the Redskins on Monday.

The signing of Francis comes on the heels of the Giants drafting both NC State defensive tackle B.J. Hill and University of Miami defensive lineman R.J. McIntosh in last week’s NFL Draft.

Francis is a four-year player out of the University of Maryland, with previous stops with the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Tampa Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks.

Last year was by far Francis’ best year as a pro. He came into the 2017 season with only three games played in the NFL with two career tackles.

In the Redskins’ season finale against the Giants, Francis had his best game as a pro, registering six combined tackles in Washington’s 18-10 loss to the G-Men.

Standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing in at 337 pounds, Francis’ massive frame makes him a great fit as a nose tackle in new defensive coordinator James Bettcher’s 3-4 scheme. He’d make a great number two option for the Giants behind Damon Harrison at the nose tackle position

By signing Francis and drafting both Hill and McIntosh, the Giants are very deep at the defensive tackle spots with the aforementioned Harrison, Jay Bromley, Dalvin Tomlinson, Robert Thomas and Josh Banks.

These additions may spell the end for Bromley and Thomas with the Giants. Both players are better fits in a 4-3 defense and not in a 3-4 scheme.

Details on Francis’ contract with the Giants are still unknown. The Giants also signed former Tennesse Titans quarterback Alex Tanney to a deal on Wednesday as well.

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