OL Shane Lemieux Announces Retirement
Injuries regularly limited Shane Lemieux, who was unable to build on his rookie-year starter season as a Giant in 2020. After not seeing any game action last season, Lemieux announced (via LinkedIn) his retirement Wednesday.
Lemieux, 28, spent last season on the Seahawks’ practice squad after failing to make the Saints’ 53-man roster. New Orleans released Lemieux upon trimming its roster to 53 players last August, but he landed on the P-squad of an eventual Super Bowl-winning team a few weeks later. The 2024 Saints blocker played for Klint Kubiak and reunited with the OC in Seattle.
The Seahawks, however, placed Lemieux on their P-squad IR in October and did not remove him from that list. Lemieux technically remained a Seahawk for the rest of the season, but he was unable to contribute much. The team did not elevate him to its 53-man roster last season.
Chosen in Round 5 during Joe Judge‘s first offseason with the Giants, the Oregon alum made nine starts as a rookie. He replaced Will Hernandez after the latter landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list midseason and did not relinquish the job. Unfortunately for Lemieux, injuries slowed him henceforth.
Lemieux suffered a patellar tendon tear in Week 1 of the 2021 season; that injury sidelined him until mid-November 2022. The Giants activated Lemieux from IR in 2022 but only used him in one game (though, he did start that contest). Lemieux finished that season on IR. In 2023, Lemieux sustained groin and biceps injuries; the latter led him to IR after four games. The Saints signed Lemieux in April 2024 and used him as a four-game starter at center, with Erik McCoy hurt, after an IR activation. Lemieux started New Orleans’ final two games of the 2024 season, seeing action only at center that year.
Giants Draft Latest: Styles, Downs, Love, Ioane, Fano, Tyson, Trade
For the second time in four years, the Giants hold two top-10 picks in a draft. Joe Schoen‘s first draft did not maximize the value at Nos. 5 and 7, where Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal arrived. If the GM is to save his job, he will need to serve as a meaningful contributor while a John Harbaugh-fronted regime navigates the Nos. 5 and 10 overall selections.
The Giants obtained No. 10 from the Bengals for Dexter Lawrence. While that haul surprised some Giants decisionmakers, the team bungling the Neal pick reminds how having such meaningful draft real estate can backfire. Several possibilities certainly exist for Big Blue near the top of this draft.
A path where the Giants grab Sonny Styles at No. 5 and emerge from No. 10 with another offensive line starter should be considered in play, according to SportsBoom.com’s Jason La Canfora. A GM informed La Canfora that Styles will not be available by No. 10, so if Harbaugh wants a Roquan Smith-type linebacking anchor, the Giants would need to pull the trigger at 5.
Likely set to be the highest ILB drafted since the Buccaneers chose Devin White fifth overall in 2019, Styles has been connected to the Titans at No. 4. With the Jets down to Arvell Reese and David Bailey and the Cardinals not tied to Styles much, it would seemingly be down to Tennessee passing to greenlight a Giants pick.
The Giants have two locked-in tackle starters, in Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Eluemunor, but their guard posts do not feature a long-term piece. Although Jon Runyan Jr. came up as a cut candidate months ago, he remains on the roster. The former Packer is entering the final season of a three-year, $30MM contract and may not be a roster lock, and the team signed ex-Raven (one of many brought in under Harbaugh) Daniel Faalele to go with Lucas Patrick. Those players could be swing options, however, and La Canfora hears Harbaugh “loves” Penn State guard Vega Ioane.
Ioane has been linked to Baltimore at No. 14, where Ely Allen’s PFR mock draft sent him. Prior to the Lawrence trade, Ely mocked Francis Mauigoa to New York at No. 5. The Giants have an interesting opportunity to add a quality O-line option thanks to holding a second first-rounder, and Ioane should remain on the board by No. 10. Kadyn Proctor and Spencer Fano, two tackle prospects who could slide to guard (joining Mauigoa in that regard), also are believed to be on the Giants’ radar, per La Canfora.
Wide receiver should also be considered a factor for the Giants, especially at No. 10. They have been linked closely to Carnell Tate and Jordyn Tyson, and ESPN.com’s Dan Grazino adds more fuel to the Tyson-to-New York fire by noting the team indeed is fond of the injury-prone Arizona State talent. Tyson has been one of the pre-draft process’ late climbers, as his recent workout showcased upside Tate may not carry. Tate is viewed as a safer prospect, however.
Another scenario for New York may feature Tyson at 10 — if he is still available — but Caleb Downs over Styles at 5, with Graziano adding multiple sources have informed him the Giants would be likely to take the ex-Buckeyes safety over the linebacker if both are available. Downs has been linked to the Giants for weeks, and the Ravens certainly valued the safety position — from Ed Reed to Eric Weddle to Earl Thomas to Kyle Hamilton — under Harbaugh.
A wrench in this plan exists at running back, though. Interest in Jeremiyah Love could prompt the Giants to table a defensive pick and go for the dual-threat Notre Dame RB prospect, with Graziano noting Love will be squarely in play — perhaps even over Downs — if he’s still available at 5. Some in the Giants’ building are holding out hope for Love at 5, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, with ESPN colleague Jordan Raanan finding it difficult to envision the team passing. Love would mark the organization’s second top-five RB investment in nine years. A Saquon Barkley ceiling is uncertain here, but teams have been rewarded for recent first-round RB picks — as possible 2023 extension recipients Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs highlight.
While Fowler also points to the Giants closely eyeing an O-line upgrade at No. 10 in the event Downs is the pick at 5 — mentioning Fano and Ioane — EssentiallySports.com’s Tony Pauline offers more on the receiver front. A concern exists Malik Nabers may not be 100% by Week 1, and Pauline goes as far as to say the Giants “will” use the No. 10 choice on a receiver.
Short-term Nabers concerns would not be a great reason to make a long-term WR investment with such a high pick, though if Tyson or Tate ends up being higher on New York’s board compared to Fano or Ioane, pairing Nabers with one of them makes sense. Tate may be unlikely to fall past New Orleans at No. 8, however. Pauline also cites a source close to Ioane who believes No. 10 might be a bit early for the draft’s top guard prospect to go.
Trading down would represent another route here, and we heard the Giants were open to moving back from No. 5 a bit ago. The New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy hears the Giants would be willing to make a small move back from No. 5 to obtain more Day 2 capital. New York traded its third-round pick to climb up for Jaxson Dart last year. A scenario in which the Cardinals take Love at No. 3 leaving the Titans with a Styles-or-EDGE selection could accelerate Giants trade talks, and either Bailey or Reese remaining on the board at 5 could prompt a trade-up — as the Giants are not in need of OLB help.
As if we aren’t deep enough in this web — big night, Giants fans — Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer is iffy the Giants would use the No. 5 pick on Downs. But the veteran insider confirms the team’s interest in Tyson (who dined with Schoen while the latter was in town for his workout). No. 5 might not even be too high for Tyson, though that would be higher than expected.
The Giants view Tyson as “so dynamic,” Glazer adds. He posted a 1,100-yard season in 2022 but has suffered major knee and collarbone injuries prior to multiple bouts with hamstring trouble. Odell Beckham Jr. comparisons have also emerged here. Were Tyson to become a Giant, a Beckham reunion may not come to pass.
Chiefs Exploring First-Round Trade
The Chiefs have explored a trade up from the No. 9 pick in the first round of Thursday’s draft, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
Kansas City is widely expected to draft a pass rusher or wide receiver, though they have also done their homework on top offensive tackle talent. A cornerback is not out of the question, either, after Trent McDuffie was traded to the Rams.
The Chiefs could certainly stand pat and still secure a premium prospect at one of their positions of need. But if general manager Brett Veach and head coach Andy Reid have fallen in love with a specific player, they could use one of their other eight selections or 2027 capital to move up. It is worth noting that they have a second first-round pick this year, the 29th overall selection, which could give them the option to trade up as high as the No. 3 pick.
Moving up to the Browns’ sixth overall pick seems more reasonable. That would allow the Chiefs to jump the Commanders at No. 7, who are believed to have their eye on some of the same positions. Jumping three picks would be much cheaper than six, and it could also pre-empt other clubs looking to snipe the Chiefs’ targets.
However, Kansas City is “thinking about moving back just as much as they are thinking about moving up,” according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. A team with a top-heavy salary cap picture needs to find multiple contributors in the draft every year, and getting more bites at the apple is crucial, especially in a class with so much Day 2 talent.
If the Chiefs do not trade up, but their preferred targets are gone at No. 9, they could suddenly be in the catbird’s seat for the teams behind looking to move up. Among those teams are the Rams (No. 13) and the Eagles (No. 23), according to Breer. The Giants (No. 10) and Dolphins (No. 11) are also candidates for such a move, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano.
Some Teams Prefer Jordyn Tyson’s Upside To Carnell Tate’s; Giants, Jets Showing Interest
One of the top storylines during the late runup to the draft covers the wide receiver position. It no longer appears a given Carnell Tate will be the first wideout chosen this year.
Residing as a fairly high-floor option, Tate did not operate as Ohio State’s No. 1 wide receiver during his time in Columbus. This is due to the presence of standout Jeremiah Smith, who is a candidate to be a top-five pick in 2027. But some teams prefer Jordyn Tyson‘s upside to Tate’s at the receiver spot, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer notes.
Breer does view most teams as having Tate as this class’ top wideout prospect; we have heard the Saints (No. 8) as a potential floor for the ex-Buckeyes talent, with the Titans, Giants and Commanders being connected as well. Several teams in the top 10, however, like Tyson, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. Tyson, who battled injuries during his college career and amid the draft leadup, performed positional drills for teams at a workout last week. That audition drew extensive attention, with Giants GM Joe Schoen among those making the trip for the showcase.
As our Ely Allen noted last week, Tyson had been viewed as the class’ top wideout at a previous juncture. But injuries have dinged his stock. Tyson suffered ACL, MCL and PCL tears while at Colorado before sustaining a broken collarbone during a 2024 comeback season. He played nine games last year due to hamstring injuries, with that issue coming up during the pre-draft process as well. Tyson shined before the collarbone break in 2024, however, totaling 1,101 receiving yards and 10 touchdown receptions.
The Giants obtained a second first-round pick via the Dexter Lawrence trade. Holding Nos. 5 and 10, New York could land both a defender and wide receiver. It might be a bit of a skill-position overcommitment for the Giants to go Jeremiyah Love at No. 5 and a receiver at 10, but if Big Blue opts for defense at 5, teams may be leery of them pouncing on Tyson at 10. On that note, SNY’s Connor Hughes mocks the Jets trading up to No. 9 for Tyson, who is believed to be the top receiver on Gang Green’s board.
Smokescreen warnings are obvious at this time of the year, but we heard previously the Jets had first-round grades on just three WRs — Tate, Tyson and Washington’s Denzel Boston. Ely mocked Boston to New York at No. 16, but PFR’s mock draft did not include trades. It is quite possible the Jets — who hold four picks in the first two rounds — could be aggressive to move up for a player they like in a maligned draft class.
The Giants’ Tyson interest is “well known,” per Hughes, who adds the Jets have held exploratory conversations about what it would take to climb up for a receiver. Tyson falling to No. 16 served as a previous Jets hope, per Hughes, but Rapoport now views it as likelier the 6-foot-2 pass catcher goes off the board in the top 10. Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. sits second at the position on some teams’ boards, per Breer, providing considerable intrigue as to the order this receiver class comes off the board.
Tate did not produce a 900-yard receiving season, playing as Smith’s sidekick. Tyson flashed brightly with the Sun Devils but could not shake injury trouble. That represents the main reason why there is a debate on this year’s first receiver off the board, as Tyson would likely occupy that spot were he cleaner from a health perspective. Will Tate’s safer prospect profile outflank Tyson’s higher ceiling Thursday night?
Giants Host DT Benito Jones
With Dexter Lawrence no longer in the fold, the Giants are in obvious need of help along the interior defensive line. Cognizant of that, the Giants hosted free agent defensive tackle Benito Jones on Tuesday, per Howard Balzer of CardsWire.
Unable to successfully renegotiate with the disgruntled Lawrence, the Giants traded him to the Bengals for the No. 10 pick last weekend. The Lawrence-less Giants are now perilously thin at the position, and finding an adequate replacement for the four-time Pro Bowler in free agency or even the draft will be a tall order. Nevertheless, Jones would at least give the Giants an experienced option with plenty of starts under his belt. The same applies to D.J. Reader, who met with the Giants earlier this month. Lawrence was still on the roster then.
Jones went undrafted in 2020, but the Ole Miss product has managed a 71-game, 38-start career over five seasons divided between Miami and Detroit. Jones put together a 17-game, 15-start with the Lions in 2023. He did the same with the Dolphins in 2024. The Dolphins re-signed Jones last year and got another 14 games and eight starts from him. He ended the season on IR with a back injury.
While Jones has racked up a solid amount of on-field action, his production has not been particularly strong. He has never topped 26 tackles, six QB hits or 1.5 sacks in any season. The 335-pounder has also struggled in the estimation of Pro Football Focus, which ranked his performance 105th among 127 D-tackles last year. PFF has been especially bullish on Jones’ work against the run, having assigned him below-average marks in that department four years in a row. That doesn’t seem ideal for the Giants, who allowed the second-most rushing yards in the NFL in 2025, but they are nonetheless considering Jones as the post-draft wave of free agency nears.
Giants Host WR Odell Beckham Jr.
Odell Beckham Jr. did not finish the 2024 season as a member of the Dolphins, being waived during that campaign. No team signed the former Pro Bowler in 2025 — his second year out of football this decade.
Establishing himself as a star during the 2010s as a Giant, Beckham met with John Harbaugh at last month’s league meetings. Harbaugh coached Beckham with the Ravens in 2023 (but did not re-sign him for the ’24 season). The prospect of a second NFL comeback gained steam Monday, with the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy reporting OBJ is at the Giants’ facility taking a physical.
This is being described as a Beckham workout for the Giants, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo add. Although this would certainly be a fascinating reunion, SNY’s Connor Hughes indicates no deal is imminent. Though, Hughes adds OBJ moved well and looked good at this audition.
Beckham, who played in last month’s flag football showcase as a reintroduction of sorts for evaluators, played with the Giants from 2014-18. All three of his Pro Bowl nods came in New York, but the team dealt him to Cleveland in 2019 in a haul that included the No. 17 overall pick. The Giants parted ways with the player obtained with that selection — Dexter Lawrence — over the weekend.
While Beckham played Hall of Fame potential during his five-year stint as a Giant, injuries slowed him considerably after his Big Apple exit. He has sustained two ACL tears, the second of which coming in Super Bowl LVI, and missed a chunk of the Dolphins’ 2024 season after more knee trouble intervened. Added on a one-year, $3MM deal to be a high-profile WR3 alongside Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, Beckham caught just nine passes for 55 yards before being cut in early December that year.
With Harbaugh now leading the Giants, Beckham’s 2023 season in Baltimore becomes more relevant. He was far more productive as a Raven, hauling in 35 passes for 565 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games. This worked out to a career-high 16.1 yards per catch. Until Zay Flowers is extended, Beckham’s $15MM guarantee at signing remains the most money the franchise has guaranteed a veteran wideout. The Ravens’ Beckham decision nixed a potential Courtland Sutton trade in 2023, providing a seminal development for a trade-rumor mainstay (who has enjoyed a strong Broncos second act since), and the team let him walk in 2024.
Considering the injury trouble Beckham has encountered, he is unlikely to reach the $3MM number he played for in Miami. The Giants already added low-cost wideouts in Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin, and with the team obtaining the Bengals’ No. 10 overall pick for Lawrence, the prospect of a first-round wide receiver looms as Malik Nabers rehabs an ACL tear. It would stand to reason the Giants wait on Beckham until after the draft. If Beckham is open to other destinations, waiting to see how WR rooms look post-draft would be logical for the free agent as well.
No Other Team Offered Giants First-Rounder For Dexter Lawrence; Draft Calculations Influenced Bengals’ Proposal
It is quite rare to see a team part with a top-10 pick for a veteran. While numerous examples exist of this happening throughout NFL history, only twice this century has a team knowingly traded a top-10 choice for a player leading up to a draft.
This happened in 2022, when the Broncos included their No. 9 overall pick in a package for Russell Wilson. It previously occurred in 2005, when the Raiders sent the No. 7 overall pick to the Vikings in a package for Randy Moss (the Seahawks did better with their draft choice, selecting Charles Cross 17 years after the Vikes chose wide receiver bust Troy Williamson). The Giants now have a chance to use two top-10 picks in a draft for the second time since 2022, having acquired No. 10 overall for Dexter Lawrence.
Fallout from the weekend blockbuster revealed some among the Giants were surprised by the Bengals’ offer, and The Athletic’s Ian O’Connor reports no other team offered New York a first-round pick for the All-Pro defensive tackle.
Lawrence, 28, was seeking a contract update but may have been nearly as interested in being traded out of New York. The Giants made multiple offers near the $28MM-per-year point, but the deals included more years of control. Already under contract through 2027 as part of his four-year, $90MM extension in 2023, Lawrence agreed to a one-year, $28MM re-up that pushes his Bengals control through 2028.
“When this opportunity came, I jumped at it,” Lawrence said, via O’Connor. “…I felt ease when I said I was going to be a Cincinnati Bengal. It felt good to me.”
The Bengals have displayed uncharacteristic aggressiveness here. Not known for splashy outside acquisitions, Cincinnati has now added Lawrence, Boye Mafe and Bryan Cook this offseason. A defense in dire need of upgrades lost Trey Hendrickson to the Ravens, and while the No. 10 overall pick represents a valuable resource — it is the highest of the seven first-round picks swapped ahead of this year’s draft — NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero notes Cincy pre-draft simulations did not produce optimal answers at that spot. A Bengals source informed Pelissero “10 would have been a slow death.”
Cincinnati had been tied to the likes of Caleb Downs and Mansoor Delane at No. 10; our Ely Allen mocked Downs to southwest Ohio. But Downs has also been linked to the Giants at No. 5. It is far from certain Downs falls to 10, and this trade seemingly indicates the Bengals do not believe the standout Ohio State safety will be available (it would certainly be interesting if he is, as the Giants would now be in prime position to pounce).
Defenders Sonny Styles, Arvell Reese and David Bailey will almost definitely be gone by No. 10, and Rueben Bain Jr. may be as well. The Bengals felt they would be picking someone at 10 that drew a mid- or late-first-round grade internally, SI.com’s Albert Breer adds.
Giants GM Joe Schoen indicated contract talks would happen at the Combine; instead, Lawrence asked for a trade if no new deal was coming, ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan and Ben Baby report. The trade ask did not leak until earlier this month, and although the Giants attempted to keep their seven-year D-line anchor, the No. 10 overall pick is a difficult offer to decline. The sides never got close on a new contract, per ESPN.
When negotiations were heading south, Lawrence’s agent prevented his client from speaking with John Harbaugh, according to the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz. This became a source of frustration for the Giants, per Schwartz, as the team made attempts to convince the dominant interior D-lineman to stay.
Lawrence’s camp approached the Giants about this issue at the 2025 Combine, Breer adds, but the team did not budge due to the precedent caving to a player with three years left on a deal would set. The sides settled on a $3MM incentive package last year.
Guarantees represented a sticking point for Lawrence and the Giants during their recent negotiations, Breer adds, and that led to Lawrence’s agent negotiating a contract with the Bengals. The Giants granted the Bengals permission to speak with Lawrence midday Saturday, Breer adds. The Giants were informed late Saturday afternoon Lawrence and the Bengals had agreed on terms, greenlighting the trade.
The Bengals reunite Lawrence with B.J. Hill, a D-tackle they acquired from the Giants (for guard Ben Bredeson) in 2021. Hill and Lawrence played together in New York for two seasons. The Bengals have loaded up at DT this offseason, adding Lawrence and Jonathan Allen to a group that included Hill and T.J. Slaton. Lawrence’s addition should help the likes of Mafe, Myles Murphy and Shemar Stewart at D-end as well.
This trade guts the Giants’ DT corps. New York ranked 31st in run stoppage with Lawrence active in 17 games last season. The team discussed pairing Lawrence with ex-Bengal D.J. Reader, per Schwartz, who expects the latter to sign post-draft. Reader visited the Giants last week. While the veteran nose tackle also met with the Ravens, he is unlikely to sign until the draft wraps. That will allow for Reader to survey the D-line landscape across the league while allowing the Giants to avoid the signing affecting their 2027 compensatory formula. But Reader may not be the only addition the Giants make at D-tackle moving forward.
Last year, Burrow pushed for a Hendrickson extension on multiple occasions. The Bengals did not offer the decorated edge rusher a contract with post-Year 1 guarantees, keeping with non-Burrow/Ja’Marr Chase franchise norms. Hendrickson balked at the proposal and agreed to a one-year pay raise. Cincy also engaged in a frosty rookie-deal negotiation with Stewart. These staredowns managed to revive Bengals thriftiness labels despite the team shelling out big money to retain Chase and Tee Higgins earlier last year. Burrow frustration resurfaced late in the season, to the point trade noise emerged (before being quickly quieted).
The Bengals were never going to seriously consider trading Burrow, but the quarterback’s frustration — which is not entirely in a different place from where Carson Palmer’s issues settled — may have been at least a partial influence for this blockbuster trade. Cincy extended Higgins because of its quarterback’s push, and after Burrow did not shoot down a question about potentially playing elsewhere at some point — with a reported aim to apply pressure on the team — the AFC North team has made a few big moves to bolster a porous defense. That raises the stakes for Zac Taylor‘s eighth season in charge.
Giants Eyeing Mid-Round Pick In Kayvon Thibodeaux Trade?
APRIL 20: A trade involving Thibodeaux is now less likely given the Lawrence blockbuster, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Trade calls have indeed taken place recently, but a strong enough offer has yet to be presented. The Athletic’s Dan Duggan confirms the Giants will not accept a Day 3 pick to move on from Thibodeaux, so he may remain in the fold through at least the draft.
APRIL 18: Kayvon Thibodeaux‘s name has frequently been mentioned in trade speculation, and the draft looms as a logical window for a deal to be worked out in his case. The Giants will be worth monitoring as they weigh their options on the Thibodeaux front.
It was reported in March that the Giants’ preference would be to move on in this case, and it became clear at the Combine the team would be open to fielding offers. No Thibodeaux swap was worked out ahead of the 2025 trade deadline. New York could elect to keep him in the fold to play out his fifth-year option, but a trade remains something to watch for over the coming days.
Casino.com’s Jason La Canfora writes it would be “quite surprising” if Thibodeaux were to still be with the Giants by the end of next week’s draft. A general manager he spoke with said New York hopes to secure a third-round pick in a trade but would be willing to accept an offer of a fourth-rounder. Any return in that range would of course represent a highly underwhelming end to the former No. 5 selection’s time as a Giant.
Thibodeaux has started all 55 of his combined regular and postseason appearances for New York, but his production and playing time has fluctuated across his four NFL seasons. 2025 saw his snap share drop to a career-low 72%, and the Oregon product’s 2.5 sacks were also a personal low. Thibodeaux has played a full campaign only once, and the Giants have a starting edge rush tandem in the form of Brian Burns and Abdul Carter for 2026 and beyond.
Those factors help explain New York’s aversion to a long-term Thibodeaux contract but they will also limit his trade value. The 25-year-old is owed $14.75MM for next season, making him an expensive rental option. An acquiring team could attempt to work out an extension, but doing so could be challenging given Thibodeaux’s career arc to date. Still, an edge rusher at his age could be an intriguing buy-low target for any number of suitors.
The Giants are currently set to experience a wide gap between their second pick (No. 37) and third one (No. 105). Acquiring a third-round selection would help bridge that divide and provide additional draft capital to improve a defense in need of upgrades with or without Dexter Lawrence in the fold.
OSU’s Kayden McDonald Expected To Be First DT Selected In 2026 Draft; Giants A Potential Fit?
The 2026 draft class is not viewed as a particularly strong one for defensive tackle talent, but there will of course be DT-needy teams looking for prospects they can mold into NFL-caliber starters. Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald is one such player, and ESPN’s Matt Miller reports McDonald is expected to be the first interior defender to hear his name called when the draft opens this week. Miller’s colleagues, Field Yates and Jordan Reid, are in agreement.
Although McDonald is one of 16 players who will be attending the first night of the draft, there is no guarantee he will be selected in the first round. Miller’s final prospect rankings did not include a DT in the top-40, and it is possible that, for the first time since 2021, there will be no Day 1 defensive tackles.
Still, McDonald is just 21 and possesses the size, strength, and talent to be an elite run stopper at the professional level. As Yates observes, the Dolphins used the No. 13 selection in last year’s draft on Kenneth Grant, a player with a similar profile to McDonald. While draftniks like NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah note McDonald needs to refine his skills as a pass rusher, Reid points out that the 6-2, 326-pound lineman has flashed the ability to not only withstand his gaps, but to make plays in the backfield as well.
Indeed, McDonald recorded three sacks and nine tackles for loss among his 65 total stops in his final season on campus, which resulted in first-team All-American acclaim and which Miller classifies as “remarkable on-ball production.” Given his floor as a high-end defender against the run and upside as a more disruptive playmaker, it would not be surprising to see McDonald sneak into the back end of the first round.
It is also worth wondering if he can fill the Dexter Lawrence-shaped void that now exists in the middle of the Giants’ defense. On Saturday, New York flipped Lawrence to the Bengals in exchange for the No. 10 pick in the upcoming draft, giving John Harbaugh & Co. more premium draft capital but stripping the club of a front seven stalwart.
While the Giants surely will not use their existing No. 5 selection or their new No. 10 choice on McDonald, their No. 37 pick could be the sweet spot, or it could be used as ammo in a small trade-up maneuver if necessary. Multiple sources have told ESPN’s Jordan Raanan that McDonald is an ideal fit for the Baltimore-style defense that Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson will install.
Giants, Bengals Agree To DT Dexter Lawrence Trade
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.
[RELATED: Traded Draft Picks For 2026]
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.