Although contract talks between the Giants and Dexter Lawrence were not perceived as dead as of Tuesday, the latest updates bring a step backward for the two parties. An impasse has given way to the sides ending this round of negotiations.
The Giants and Lawrence have broken off talks, according to the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard. While Joe Schoen said Tuesday that he, John Harbaugh and new front office hire Dawn Aponte had been discussing terms with Lawrence, the All-Pro defensive tackle had requested a trade because the sides were far apart in previous conversations.
No trade is imminent, but Leonard adds significant interest exists from other teams. Even though Leonard adds there is a “real possibility” the Giants trade Lawrence, the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz pushes back by indicating the team is not actively engaged in trade talks. No trade conversations have occurred in at least five days, per Schwartz, who contradicts Leonard’s note about trade interest by writing that the 28-year-old DT has not in fact brought strong trade interest yet.
With Lawrence seeking a hefty raise despite coming off a down 2025 season, this trade market may have a lower cap than the Giants would prefer. A Quinnen Williams-like haul has been mentioned as a comp, but the fellow 2019 first-round D-tackle did not require an immediate payday. A team trading for Lawrence would need to sign off on a raise. We have seen that component of trade talks lead to lesser offers in the recent past, and the Giants are still controlling this operation. Lawrence’s camp has not received permission to shop around yet, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes.
Viewing Lawrence as a cornerstone piece, the Giants have balked at giving in to this trade request. This has not devolved into a situation where the team will take the best offer ahead of the draft, SNY’s Connor Hughes adds, and NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo mentions receiving picks in the 2027 draft — viewed as set to feature a better class than 2026’s — would probably appeal to the team. The Giants do not view the draft as a trade deadline here, despite the pressure Lawrence’s camp is applying. Lawrence’s four-year, $90MM contract runs through the 2027 season, and with the Giants preferring to keep him, Garafolo points to this process dragging on for a while.
Lawrence played out the guarantees on his deal last season, and Schoen said ahead of the Combine that would likely coincide with a push from the player’s camp for an updated deal. Guarantees may not be driving this push, though, with The Athletic’s Dan Duggan adding Lawrence sought a new contract last year despite guarantees remaining on the pact. Lawrence has pushed for a new contract for nearly two years, according to Leonard. He and the Giants settled on a $3MM incentive package; Lawrence collected $1MM during a season in which he totaled just a half-sack and a career-low eight QB hits.
Instead, this is more about a new contract that vaults Lawrence back toward the top of the position’s market. Lawrence’s 2023 extension now sits 11th among interior D-linemen, with less accomplished players — Milton Williams, Nnamdi Madubuike, Jordan Davis and Alim McNeill — surpassing him over the past three offseasons. A $5MM-plus AAV gap still exists between Chris Jones‘ $31.75MM-per-year deal and the field. Lawrence being interested in bridging that gap is understandable, but Schwartz maintains the Giants are not interested in tearing up his deal and authorizing a raise this year.
If the Giants do not trade Lawrence before or during the draft, the next stage in this showdown will be their June minicamp. If/when Lawrence does not show for that, rumors about a training camp holdout will likely emerge, but the standout defender would lose millions before the season if he followed through on that. A hold-in measure may not be especially relevant here, as those are generally reserved for players in negotiations. If the Giants are not interested in paying Lawrence this year, a hold-in may not be practical.
Although Schoen may be on shaky ground after the Harbaugh and Aponte hires stripped power from him, Schwartz adds the GM and HC agree on the team’s handling of this situation. It still appears the Giants are ready to force Lawrence’s hand and make him earn a new deal this season, but they are listening to offers. It will take a strong proposal to convince the team (31st in 2025 run defense) to move on before the draft. With this draft class not viewed as a DT-rich crop, big offers could come. But it does not sound like the Giants have fielded a host of them yet.
It makes so much sense for the 49ers to get him. So, obviously, it’ll never happen. I hope the next regime will prioritize the trenches