Dexter Lawrence is indeed on the move. The Pro Bowl defensive tackle’s trade request will result in a swap sending him to the AFC North.
The Giants and Bengals have agreed to a Lawrence trade, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report. This deal involves the No. 10 pick in next week’s draft heading to New York. An extension is also part of this blockbuster development, per the report. Cincinnati’s Day 1 selection is the only draft capital involved in the deal, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan adds.
Lawrence was unable to work out an extension agreement last offseason, with a short-term incentive package being agreed to instead. The arrival of head coach John Harbaugh and a new reporting structure in the organization did not yield progress during the latest round of negotiations, prompting a trade request shortly before the draft. The immediate response indicated a swap was not expected, but it soon became clear the Giants were not interested in adding term or new money to the remainder of Lawrence’s contract. Talks broke off earlier this week, although team and player remained in communication leading up to tonight’s news.
In recent days it has become well known that Lawrence was open to a fresh start and that New York did not feel a sense of urgency to commit to a raise with the veteran coming off the least productive season of his career. The Giants understandably set a high asking price in this case, with a top-10 pick being sought out. They have managed to land one, and the team now holds selections No. 5 and 10 heading into the first round.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports efforts on the part of the Bengals to finalize this swap picked up over the past several days. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated adds the teams have been in contact for two weeks, with discussions centering on the price of a premium pick. The Giants initially tried to keep Lawrence even after receiving the Bengals’ offer, per SNY’s Connor Hughes; with the relationship beyond repair, the deal has now been agreed to. New York’s draft outlook is certainly much different now than it previously was.
The Giants will clear Lawrence’s remaining salaries for 2026 and ’27 from their books. With this swap taking place prior to June 1, the team will incur a dead money charge ($13.92MM) nearly identical to the cap savings ($13.04MM) which will be realized. Replacing Lawrence deep into free agency and/or by means of a draft class short on high-end defensive line prospects will now be a major priority.
From the Bengals’ perspective, this is an uncharacteristically aggressive move. Cincinnati has a reputation for avoiding high-profile transactions such as this, although the franchise’s approach has seen changes in recent years given the massive commitments made to the likes of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Investing heavily in those three has helped lead to defensive shortcomings, and upgrading on that side of the ball has been a key focus this offseason. Illustrating the nature of this acquisition, Raanan’s colleague Adam Schefter notes this is the first time in the common draft era (1966-present) the Bengals have traded away a top-10 pick.
The Bengals have made a number of defensive free agent additions, including the signing of Jonathan Allen not long after his release. He and Lawrence will aim to improve a defense which struggled in a number of categories in 2025, including a last-place finish against the run. Cincinnati showed interest in trading for Osa Odighizuwa last month, but after being unable to swing a deal on that front the team has managed to secure a major addition along the defensive interior. Lawrence, 28, has three Pro Bowl nods and two appearances on the second All-Pro team to his name.
Returning to his previous form would be critical for the Clemson product and the Bengals’ ability to reach the postseason in 2026. Lawrence has been one of the league’s premiere interior pass rushers for much of his career, but last season saw him post just 0.5 sacks and 12 QB pressures. That drop-off in production was a key reason driving the Giants’ hesitancy with respect to a new deal moving Lawrence back toward the top of the defensive tackle market. Prior to this agreement, his $22.5MM-per-year pact sat outside the top 10 for the position.
Lowering Lawrence’s 2026 cap charge will be key for Cincinnati. The team entered Saturday 31st in the NFL in cap space with nowhere near enough room to absorb his figure and afford to sign its incoming draft class. The particulars will certainly be worth watching for as the Bengals prepare to build around Lawrence while authorizing a big-money deal in addition to a substantial acquisition cost.
Giants are all of a sudden competent… Getting #10 and avoiding a massive contract is amazing
Why not just pay Hendrickson and keep the top 10 pick?
The bridge was already burnt with Hendrickson and he will be 32 with one of the worst injury records in the league the past two years
He was injured for the first time this decade and you’re making up hyperbole
This move looks like a potential blunder for the bengals
Dexter had a pretty bad year and now is going to also get a ton of money that the bengals should use on their offensive line
If the giants take Delane or an offensive linemen and they become a star than this would be one of the worst trades
They’re def has been horrific and this gives them a study up the middle to build around. No brainer. They’re fault they dumped so much money into WRs
“this gives them a study up the middle to build around”
The Giants had a better surrounding cast for Dex last year and their defense was terrible.
Cincy… what?
Find something wrong with his physical
Bengals are going to Bengals it up. This trade makes no sense for them plus that contract is enormous. Did Burrow threaten retirement soon or something?
When the haters are out you know its a good one for the Bengals. They got help on the edge, the secondary, and now one of the best interior lineman in football. The Bengals will be very good this season, shut up.
100 percent .
“now one of the best interior lineman in football.”
If only that were true, lmao
Glad Dexter out of NFC EAST
The league’s worst division last year.
So long as the NFC south exists that’s patently untrue
Bengals are being NBA stupid trading such a valuable pick for an expensive player when they aren’t close to being a good enough team to truly compete for a superbowl.
Right, the bengals should wait until they are better to try to improve themselves.
They shouldn’t have wasted a top 10 pick where they could’ve gotten a premium starter cost controlled instead of giving it away for an expensive player, who isn’t a difference maker and hasn’t won anything his entire career. Teams improve through the draft.
Cincy was just in a Superbowl not too long ago. They have the offense, just need defense.
People saying it’s not a good trade for the Bengals just don’t get it imo. There was a great chance there wasn’t gonna be a defensive difference maker for them at 10 a that’s what they need RIGHT NOW. I’m assuming the extension will be pretty Bengals friendly or they wouldn’t agree to the deal, gives them an elite 1 tech to help out the LB and gets the most double teams in the league helping out everyone else as well. As a bengals fan I am very happy I think this is a great deal for a team that needs to win NOW a show improvement NOW. Just hit on Nickel, LB and swing tackle/IOL on days two and three and they will be fine.
Considering Lawrence was reportedly unhappy that his contract wasn’t close to the top of the market, I’d disagree. It’s more likely that the Bengals made an uncharacteristically aggressive and short-sighted move than Lawrence taking a team friendly deal.
Also, with the way the board is looking, they almost certainly WOULD have gotten a defensive difference maker at 10. Lawrence is better than any DT on the board so if you’re strictly looking at that position then they got the best available, but they likely could have had their pick of at least one of Styles/Delane/Downs when they were on the board. And they would have gotten one of them on a rookie deal.
We shall see this week if one of those 3 drop to 10. I’m expecting Cleveland to trade back and someone trade up to take one of those 3 players as well imo
Styles at 5, Downs at 10 would be amazing
Downs at 5, WR at 10, imo. I’d take both scenarios, though.
Trading away an easy top 3 player at his position in his prime in Dexter Lawrence and trusting a General Manager in Joe Schoen who might be on his way out to make a good pick with the 10th overall pick might give The Bengals a rare win in a trade, and I personally think they won the trade.
“Trading away an easy top 3 player”
He wasn’t close to top 3 last year. The year before, maybe. This is a big gamble by the Bengals. Maybe it works out, but it’ll cost them a valuable pick and (presumably) a big contract.
This is a crazy trade…. Cincinnati never does this
BUNGALS
What an awful trade for the Bengals
Worse for the Giants! Terrible trade for both teams
I’d love if the Giants somehow got Styles and Mauigoa
Wow, I really did not see Cincinnati trading big draft capital to give big money to anyone, let alone a DT after Allen.
Also I kinda like this for both teams in a way? If the Giants were going to trade him, great to get 10 overall. But also Lawrence is a unique star if he’s healthy and clicking, and cool to see the Bengals go all in.
Don’t see anything negative about this trade for either team.
Good trade. Didn’t think the Bengals had it in them.
Wow! I thought the Giants would be lucky to get a #3 and #5 for him at this point.
Bengals went all in. Super Bowl or bust. Prolly be the latter….
Giants are turning into the Jets! What a joke. You have an all pro player, one of the best guys in the league….so let’s trade him for a pick you hope doesn’t bust.
Again…what a joke
Bengals weren’t one player away from contention before the trade, and they still aren’t after it. And Joe Burrow still doesn’t have anyone to block for him.