Giants, Dexter Lawrence At ‘Impasse’
The Giants have been in contract talks with disgruntled defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence, but those discussions have not been productive. The sides are at an “impasse,” Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. With the Giants continuing to discuss Lawrence in trades, a resolution is expected before the draft, per Rapoport.
Speaking with the media on Tuesday, general manager Joe Schoen indicated the Giants had not set a draft deadline to settle Lawrence’s future. It appears an answer will come by then, though. The Giants, who already own the fifth pick in the draft, are expected to get a first-rounder back if a Lawrence trade occurs, according to Connor Hughes of SNY. This is not considered a strong draft class for defensive tackles, which should boost Lawrence’s value across the league, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN notes.
As the 17th overall pick in 2019, Lawrence joined the Giants a few years before Schoen took over as their GM. Schoen, then in his second offseason on the job, authorized a four-year, $90MM extension for Lawrence in May 2023. The pact included $60MM in guarantees and made the two-time second-team All-Pro one of the richest defensive tackles in the NFL. Three years later, Lawrence ranks seventh among DTs in guarantees, 11th in total value and 13th in average salary.
Now unhappy with where he stands in the financial pecking order at his position, the 28-year-old Lawrence requested a trade last week. He is still signed through 2027 and due to count just under $27MM against the cap in each of the next two years.. Lawrence is owed a non-guaranteed $18.5MM base salary next season, but an acquiring team would have to give him a raise.
The Chargers are considered one “logical” fit, a source told Tyler Dragon of USA Today. That would mean a major trade between new Giants head coach John Harbaugh and Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh. The Harbaugh brothers most recently came together on a trade when the Ravens, then coached by John, sent edge defender Odafe Oweh to the Chargers for safety Alohi Gilman last October. The Chargers now have the third-most cap space in the league ($48.68MM), giving them ample room to pay Lawrence if they are interested in swinging a deal.
Even though John Harbaugh called Lawrence “super, super important” to the Giants’ defense in late February, the team has not been willing to meet the 6-foot-4, 340-pounder’s demands. Harbaugh and first-year senior VP of football ops and strategy Dawn Aponte have wrested power away from Schoen this offseason. All three have engaged in talks with Lawrence, but unless there is a 180 in negotiations over the next week-plus, it appears the four-time Pro Bowler will be on his way out soon.
Giants Still In Talks With Dexter Lawrence, Do Not View Draft As Deadline
The draft represents the second trade window on the NFL calendar, and an All-Pro recently made a request to be moved. The Giants have referred to Dexter Lawrence as a core player, but they have a decision to make — perhaps soon.
Joe Schoen confirmed a previous report the Giants are listening to offers for the veteran defensive tackle, via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo, but the fifth-year GM said (via the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy) he is not treating the draft as a deadline to complete a deal. If the Giants were going to move on, it would expedite their John Harbaugh-headed overhaul if they collected prime draft capital for Lawrence this year. But the team is believed to still want him on Harbaugh’s first Big Blue roster.
[RELATED: Kayvon Thibodeaux Trade Talks Could Pick Up]
Harbaugh, Schoen and senior VP of football ops and strategy Dawn Aponte have engaged in talks with Lawrence over the past week, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan adds. That represents a promising chapter here, but a recent report indicated the Giants are not interested in extending Lawrence this offseason. Lawrence, 28, is coming off a down year — albeit one Schoen partially blamed on the elbow injury he sustained late in 2024 — and has two seasons left on the four-year, $90MM extension agreed to in 2023.
“We’d like for Dexter to be here and at some point we’ll come to a resolution here, whatever that may be. We’ll see,” Schoen said, via Garafolo. “I’m always going to pick up the phone. Maybe not to the (extent) that coach said last week that everybody is tradable. But that is my job as general manager, if teams call … to take into consideration what that looks like, what the compensation looks like, who the player is, how that affects the roster and then try to make the best decision off that.”
The Giants testing Lawrence’s resolve could lead to a minicamp absence and at least a training camp hold-in. The latter route, as opposed to a holdout, would not lead to fines. Hold-in measures typically take place by players in negotiations, but if the Giants are not planning to extend Lawrence this year, a plan to observe practices would lead to a distraction during Harbaugh’s first training camp with the team. Lawrence, who has fallen to 11th among interior D-linemen in terms of AAV, is due a nonguaranteed $18.5MM base salary this year.
The haul the Jets landed for Quinnen Williams — a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 first and DT Mazi Smith — has come up regarding Lawrence, who earned All-Pro acclaim in 2022 and ’23 before a Pro Bowl 2024 slate that included a career-high nine sacks (in just 12 games). That might be a stretch given Lawrence’s down 2025 campaign and interest in a sizable pay raise. Chris Jones‘ $31.75MM-per-year deal leads DTs in AAV, with the next wave of interior D-linemen coming in south of $27MM per annum. Lawrence figures to at least be looking to bridge that gap, but it may take another year for the Giants to truly come to the table.
New York authorized an incentive package for Lawrence last year, and Harbaugh did not sound like he would appease a player who requested a trade. Lawrence returning to form under new DC Dennard Wilson would up his value ahead of the 2027 offseason, but the Clemson product making this stand now — before his 29th birthday — may be a wiser play than doing so next year (when he will turn 30). It just may be a while before a resolution arrives, and with Schoen losing considerable power this offseason, Harbaugh and Aponte’s views may matter more than the GM’s.
The Giants ranked 31st against the run last year with Lawrence suiting up for 17 games. They have been linked to adding D-linemen, and D.J. Reader visited Monday. But Lawrence will be quite difficult to replace — especially with this draft class not teeming with DT options. The Giants, who hold the No. 5 overall pick, will not be expected to address their D-line until at least Round 2.
It would surprise if Lawrence is moved by next week, with our Adam La Rose viewing Thibodeaux as the more likely player to be dealt this year. But Schoen making it clear he will listen does keep the door open to Harbaugh (who now holds the personnel hammer) deciding to add assets ahead of his first Giants draft.
Cowboys Could Trade Up In Round 1
APRIL 14: A belief around the NFL points to Dallas being a team to monitor regarding a trade-up, per veteran insider Jordan Schultz, who notes the team packaging Nos. 12 and 20 is being viewed as a possible scenario. Trade-up and trade-down rumors are obviously commonplace around this time, but Schultz adds several teams believe the Cowboys are eyeing a player the Giants also covet. Moving ahead of New York’s No. 5 pick would be pricey, though it appears that is on the table.
The Giants have been tied to a few prospects at 5. Downs, Sonny Styles, Jeremiyah Love and Carnell Tate have been connected to Big Blue during the pre-draft process. This situation could soon remind of 2021, when the Eagles eyed Giants target DeVonta Smith and used the Cowboys (at No. 10) to trade in front of New York. While the Giants are in position to land another impact player near the top of a draft, the prospect of them moving down — perhaps for a cornerback, where the team has done extensive work — has also been mentioned.
APRIL 13: The Cowboys are entering the 2026 draft with a clear need to upgrade on the defensive side of the ball. They currently hold the 12th and 20th overall picks, but trading up for an elite defender is not out of the question.
In particular, Dallas could target Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr., who they see as “instant-impact game changers on defense,” according to ESPN’s Jordan Reid.
Downs is the consensus No. 1 safety in this year’s draft class and has a case to be the top defender in terms of pure talent. However, teams will likely prioritize edge rushers and cornerbacks over a safety in the first five picks, which could put the two-time All-American within the Cowboys’ range.
Dallas already reshaped their safety room this offseason by signing Jalen Thompson and P.J. Locke in free agency to join Malik Hooker. However, none of the three are younger than 28 years old and only Thompson is signed past the 2026 season. Downs could carve out a role right away, especially in the slot where the team lacks proven contributors, while serving as the centerpiece of the safety room in the long-term.
The Cowboys may look back to 2022, when Kyle Hamilton fell to the Ravens at No. 14, and hope that the same happens with Downs. However, teams clearly overthought Hamilton as a prospect after his sub-par athletic testing, and Downs, perhaps looking to avoid a similar fall, declined to participate this year. That may prevent the former Buckeye from making it to the 12th pick and force Dallas to trade up.
Bain, the Cowboys’ other priority target, was already seen as a potential faller after measuring in with sub-31-inch arms at the Combine. It does not seem that recent news of two careless driving citations will tank his stock, but length concerns may be enough to drop him out of the top five.
Dallas re-signed Sam Williams and traded for Rashan Gary to strengthen their edge rusher room this offseason, but they could stand to add a young, high-upside talent in this draft. 2025 second-round Donovan Ezeiruaku disappointed as a rookie, and while he still has potential, he may not have the same All-Pro ceiling as Bain.
Titans, Giants In Play For Carnell Tate; Saints Viewed As WR’s Floor?
A host of wide receivers could go off the board in Round 1, but the order in which this will unfold appears foggy. However, the question as to who is this draft’s top option at the position looks to have been answered.
As our Ely Allen noted over the weekend, Carnell Tate has created some distance between himself and the field at receiver. Despite not being Ohio State’s go-to option — that is likely 2027 top-five pick Jeremiah Smith — Tate is viewed as the clear frontrunner to be the first wideout off the board. A top-five landing spot is in play for one of this draft’s high-profile Buckeyes, and falling out of the top 10 is highly unlikely.
The Titans and Giants are in play for Tate at Nos. 4 and 5, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, who views the player as a top-10 lock. No. 9 may not be relevant to Tate’s draft destination, either, with ESPN.com’s Jordan Reid adding the Saints “would quickly add” him if he remains available at No. 8.
New Orleans has been linked to pursuing pass-catching help in this draft. The team would align Tate with former Ohio State wideout Chris Olave in this scenario, one that would require Jeremiyah Love and some of the Ohio State defenders — perhaps all three — going off the board before Tate to become reality. If a team is going to double down on a program at receiver, Ohio State is probably the one to pick. The Buckeyes have sent five receivers to the first round since 2022 (Olave, Garrett Wilson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka) and developed 2019 third-rounder-turned-Washington WR1 Terry McLaurin.
Tennessee, New York and New Orleans each brought Tate in for a “30” visit, gathering intel on a player who caught 51 passes for 875 yards and nine touchdowns last season (the Browns, Chiefs and Commanders also met with him). Tate does not have a 1,000-yard college season on his resume, but his two years as a Buckeyes regular overlapped with Smith’s first two Columbus slates. Smith will be consistently linked to the top five of what looks like a more talent-rich 2027 draft. For now, Tate is the Ohio State prize on the offensive side. He joins Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs as Buckeyes products who could be top-10 choices next week.
The Saints traded Rashid Shaheed to the Seahawks at last year’s deadline, with the deep threat unlikely to re-sign with New Orleans. Shaheed re-signed with Seattle. The Saints did not make a notable move at receiver in free agency, effectively clearing the runway here. It would stand to reason that Makai Lemon would be in play for New Orleans at No. 8 if Tate goes earlier, but Breer adds there does not appear to be a consensus on this class’ second-best receiver prospect.
Different teams see USC’s Lemon, Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion and Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. as the second-best WR in this draft, per Breer (Ely covered Concepcion’s Prospect Profile on Sunday). We heard last week some teams even have Washington’s Denzel Boston as a top-two or top-three wideout in the class. This receiver crop, like a few in recent years, is also viewed as deep, potentially influencing teams to wait on the position and address other needs earlier.
The Titans did not end up cutting Calvin Ridley, but it is quite possible the 31-year-old target will not be on their 2027 roster. Tennessee also added Wan’Dale Robinson to reunite with Brian Daboll. Losing Robinson, the Giants gave Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin low-cost deals to play alongside Malik Nabers. But the team may lack a No. 2 target going into the draft.
Giants Meet With DT D.J. Reader
Regardless of Dexter Lawrence‘s 2026 status, defensive tackle is on the Giants’ radar. They are still a bit light at the position, and last year’s squad ranked 31st in stopping the run.
New York is considering a veteran addition in that department, with veteran reporter Jordan Schultz indicating the team brought in D.J. Reader for a visit Monday. Reader has also visited the Ravens; the veteran D-tackle is making the rounds and expected to sign somewhere post-draft.
That timeline aligns with the compensatory deadline, with another wave of free agency beginning annually due to teams waiting until May to sign UFAs due to them not counting against their comp-pick formula for the 2027 draft. Reader played out a two-year, $22MM Lions deal. He will be looking for a fourth NFL contract, having moved from Houston to Cincinnati to Detroit during a 10-year career.
Despite Reader coming off the second quadriceps tear of his NFL career (sustained in 2023), he started every game he played for the Lions. Reader, 31, missed only two games during his two-year Detroit tenure. The 330-pound defender graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 32 overall interior D-lineman last season and slotted 36th in 2024. He checked in higher as a Bengal, with PFF grading the Clemson alum as a top-11 DT from 2021-23. That span included a Super Bowl LVI start; Reader registered a sack in that close Cincinnati loss.
Harbaugh’s former team plays the compensatory system shrewdly every year. The Ravens hoard comp picks, regularly signing veterans after the draft. Baltimore often stocked its edge-rushing corps this way, and while Harbaugh has already added several ex-Ravens (Isaiah Likely, Patrick Ricard, Jordan Stout, Ar’Darius Washington, Daniel Faalele) in an active Giants free agency period, his former team’s tactics point to more roster-building work coming after the draft.
The Giants allowed 5.3 yards per carry last season, ceding at least 220 yards in three games (against the Commanders, Eagles and Lions). Lawrence has asked for a trade, but as our Adam La Rose noted in his most recent mailbag, that likely has more to do with extension talks than a full-on desire to leave New York. That said, the Giants are not believed to be planning a raise for Lawrence after a down season. That will test the eighth-year D-tackle’s resolve. It seems doubtful this Reader visit will cause Lawrence to cave, given the latter’s status as a two-time All-Pro.
Big Blue is believed to be more open to moving Kayvon Thibodeaux than Lawrence, whom Harbaugh has labeled a core player. The Giants are not expected to deal Lawrence, but they will listen to offers. If a big proposal is accepted, the Giants will be in dire need of DT help. More than just Reader would need to be added in the event an unlikely trade commences.
Giants Sign QB Brandon Allen
Brandon Allen has lined up his next NFL gig. The veteran quarterback has agreed to a deal with the Giants, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports.
The news has since been made official by a team announcement. Allen will offer New York with depth under center during offseason work. The Giants have Jaxson Dart in place as their starter, with Jameis Winston in the fold as well. Russell Wilson remains unsigned at this point, and today’s move further confirms he will not be back with New York for 2026.
Allen, 33, is a veteran of 19 appearances and 10 starts during the regular season in his career. He has spent plenty of time working with Brian Callahan, and the two overlapped in Cincinnati and again in Tennessee. Callahan was hired as the Giants’ new quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator in February, so this move will allow for another reunion with Allen.
Arriving in the NFL as a Jaguars draftee in 2016, Allen never made any regular-season appearance with Jacksonville. The former sixth-rounder’s first action in that regard came with the Broncos in 2019, and it was followed by a stint as the Bengals’ backup. Allen spent 2024 with the 49ers, making one start along the way. With Cam Ward remaining durable during his rookie season, though, Allen only logged 49 offensive snaps in 2025.
Dart will be counted on to operate as the Giants’ QB1 next season, although his style of play as a rookie resulted in injury concerns. Winston would be next in line to handle the team’s offense during his second year in the organization. Allen’s familiarity with Callahan will no doubt help him acclimate to the Giants during offseason work. He will spend the coming months attempting to carve out a roster spot or at least receive the opportunity to land on New York’s practice squad following cutdowns.
Trade Talks Involving Giants’ Kayvon Thibodeaux Could Pick Up
APRIL 12: Executives who spoke with La Canfora predicted a mid-round pick could be enough to finalize a Thibodeaux trade. Adding a third- or fourth-round selection would allow the Giants to immediately target a rookie replacement in the event a deal were to be made in the near future.
APRIL 9: Dexter Lawrence has requested a trade as a sign of frustration with the status of his extension talks. No trade is expected in his case, but calls will no doubt be made as the draft approaches.
Interest is also likely to increase with respect to Kayvon Thibodeaux. The former first-round edge rusher has previously been linked to a trade, with calls being made leading up to the 2025 deadline. No agreement was reached then, but this year’s Combine presented another opportunity for a deal to be discussed by the Giants and interested teams. A report from last month indicated New York’s preference would be to work out a trade in this case.
SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora confirms Thibodeaux is still viewed as being open to a change of scenery, something which could yield a full-time starting role. Brian Burns has thrived since the Giants acquired him via trade, while 2025 third overall pick Abdul Carter is in line to handle a large workload for years to come. Thibodeaux is set to earn $14.75MM in 2026 as a result of the Giants’ decision to pick up his fifth-year option. The Oregon product would no doubt be expected to sign an extension with an acquiring team in the event of a trade.
To no surprise, La Canfora reports the Giants are unlikely to move on from both Lawrence and Thibodeaux this offseason. Efforts to work out a compromise with the former could take place, although a new big-ticket deal does not appear to be in store. Replacing Lawrence could also prove to be challenging given his production (aside from the 2025 season, of course). With Burns and Carter in the fold, though, dealing Thibodeaux and drafting a replacement later this month could be seen as feasible. A trade at any time would take Thibodeaux’s 2026 salary entirely off the books and create considerable cap room for New York.
Injuries have led to Thibodeaux playing a full season only once to date in the NFL. The 25-year-old notched 11.5 sacks in 2023, but in general he has not developed as expected given his status as a former fifth overall selection. Per La Canfora, a mid-round pick could be offered by interested teams leading up to the draft. That would obviously represent an underwhelming end to Thibodeaux’s Giants tenure, but it will once again be a scenario worth watching for.
Giants Willing To Entertain Dexter Lawrence Trade Offers
Since Dexter Lawrence‘s trade request went public, there has been a general expectation a deal sending him away from the Giants will not be worked out. Replacing the three-time Pro Bowler would be challenging for New York, while the list of teams willing to authorize an extension upon acquiring him may be short at this point of the offseason.
Interest will be shown by suitors leading up to the draft in the wake of Giants extension talks once again not yielding progress. Two years remain on Lawrence’s deal, and the team is prepared to move forward without a short-term fix like the one worked out last summer or a raise brought on by a new contract. The willingness of the Giants to seriously entertain offers over the coming days will make for an intriguing storyline.
New head coach John Harbaugh spoke publicly about Lawrence’s value to the team during the onset of the Giants’ offseason program. He also raised eyebrows when stating that “everybody is tradable,” however, and it will be interesting to see if New York winds up being prepared to work out a swap in this case. On that note, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reports the Giants “will at least listen to” calls made regarding Lawrence’s availability. He confirms the team’s preference would be to keep Lawrence in the fold for 2026, but the financial impasse could prove to be a key factor on the trade front.
Lawrence inked an extension in line with other top defensive tackle extensions in 2024. His deal carries an average annual value of $22.5MM, but that figure has been surpassed multiple times with the position’s market continuing to surge. The 28-year-old managed just 0.5 sacks and 12 pressures in 2025, something which has no doubt complicated his efforts to secure a raise. As things stand, Lawrence is owed $20MM next season and $22MM in 2027.
Teams may very well be hesitant to add to those figures in addition to paying a notable price in a trade. Nevertheless, any contender could stand to benefit from adding Lawrence. The Packers made one blockbuster move by acquiring Micah Parsons last offseason, and executives who spoke with SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora pointed to Green Bay as a logical suitor with respect to Lawrence. Making another win-now move via the trade route would be out of character for the Packers’ front office, but the seven-year veteran would offer a boost to a defensive interior which has plenty of room for improvement compared to last season.
To date, the Packers have not been connected to any firm interest on the Lawrence front. Whether or not that changes will of course depend in large part on the Giants’ asking price. Raanan notes an offer including two Day 2 picks and another on Day 3 could be in store in the case of the Clemson product. La Canfora also writes a first-round selection – at least, in 2026 – is unlikely to be attainable regardless of how strong Lawrence’s market becomes. Improving at the DT spot is already a Giants priority entering the draft, but that could become true to a much larger extent if trade calls were to produce an agreement.
Giants Eyeing Trade-Down Move From No. 5; Other Teams Interested In Trading Back
Closely connected to Jeremiyah Love and Caleb Downs at No. 5 overall, the Giants are launching a new regime centered around John Harbaugh. Coming off a 3-14 season and not entering free agency as one of the most cap-rich teams, the Giants still have holes to fill.
New York also does not hold a third-round pick, trading it to the Texans in the deal that gave New York Jaxson Dart access last year. The Giants are (again) in prime position to snare one of the top talents in a draft class. This is certainly not atypical, as the Giants have walked out of recent drafts with Abdul Carter, Malik Nabers, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Andrew Thomas and Saquon Barkley. They also made two more top-10 picks in this span, selecting Daniel Jones and Evan Neal. This brigade of high-level prospects has not mattered much for Big Blue in the grand scheme.
Harbaugh represents the latest organizational pivot, as the team hopes an experienced leader can help put pieces together in a way the recent run of less seasoned coaches could not. The Giants could land yet another upper-crust prospect, but ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan notes a belief exists the team would prefer to trade down a few spots to accumulate more draft capital.
The Giants hold Nos. 5 and 37 but do not pick again until No. 105. While they have been tied to Love, Downs, Sonny Styles and Carnell Tate, Raanan adds cornerback is a position where the team is doing homework. LSU’s Mansoor Delane visited the Giants on Thursday, and they are digging into Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy as well. McCoy missed all of last season with an ACL tear but has rehabbed to the point he will be ready to go as a rookie. McCoy clocked a 4.38-second 40-yard dash time at the Volunteers’ pro day and is expected to be drafted by the middle of Round 1 at the latest.
Neither player profiles as one requiring an investment at No. 5, however, and the Giants could be angling to find teams interested in climbing up for a prospect in an effort to recoup a Day 2 pick or two. We are, of course, in prime smokescreen season. The Giants are obviously far from certain to move down and pass on one of this draft’s top prospects, and the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy adds Love and Downs (in that order) may be the top players in the team’s draft queue. We heard Giants-Love connections earlier, with Downs and Styles also drawing extensive attention from the team — as Harbaugh’s former club valued the safety position highly.
New York gave Paulson Adebo a three-year, $54MM deal in free agency last year and signed Greg Newsome to a one-year, $8MM pact last month. Newsome profiles as more of a stopgap than a Cordale Flott successor, and the Giants look to have missed on 2023 first-rounder Deonte Banks. Adebo being brought in before Harbaugh’s staff arrived also probably affects the team’s CB interest in this draft.
The Giants also might not find too many teams with appetites to surrender assets and move up. With no quarterback beyond Fernando Mendoza compelling teams to consider big-ticket trade-up offers and the likes of Love, Styles and Downs at non-premium positions, there might be a shortage of trade action early. The teams that follow the Raiders in the top five — the Jets, Cardinals, Titans and Giants — are believed to be interested in moving down to add assets, SI.com’s Albert Breer said in an interview with The Ringer’s Todd McShay, but trade partners are not plentiful right now.
Drafting Love, Styles or Downs this high do not bring the type of contractual advantage identifying a top-shelf pass rusher, wide receiver or tackle — positions usually populating this draft space — would provide. And trading assets to acquire one of these players compounds this issue, potentially creating a scenario in which we do not see much trade action early. Breer adds the trade movement in this year’s draft may begin around No. 10.
It is obviously not a lock the draft will play out this way, and veteran insider Jordan Schultz has been told this could be a trade-heavy draft. Schultz points to a potential “flurry” of activity in the first half of Round 1, citing sources informing him of modest depth in the later rounds. While it is true the present college landscape keeping players in school longer has depleted draft classes — with mid-20-somethings populating the later rounds and UDFA classes — others have spoken of this class’ depth at certain positions.
It will be interesting to hear if more trade chatter picks up over the next two weeks. That is generally the case, and even without a quarterback driving action (as Drake Maye did with the Giants and Vikings in 2024), trade buzz promises to pick up in the coming days.
Giants Not Eyeing Dexter Lawrence Raise
The 2023 offseason established a new salary bracket among interior defensive linemen, bridging the sizable gap between Aaron Donald and the field at the time. Dexter Lawrence was among the ascending D-tackles who did so, joining Quinnen Williams, Jeffery Simmons and Daron Payne in being given top-five DT deals that offseason.
Lawrence, Payne, Simmons and Williams remain tied to those extensions. As could be expected, some other interior D-linemen have passed this quartet as the salary cap has soared. Milton Williams, Jordan Davis and Zach Allen each passed $25MM per year; Davis and his ex-Eagles teammate are at $26MM AAV. Alim McNeill and Nnamdi Madubuike surpassed the above-referenced foursome as well.
By far the best piece of the 2019 Odell Beckham Jr. trade for either the Giants or Browns, Lawrence proved worthy of the four-year, $90MM extension he signed in May 2023. He ventured to three straight Pro Bowls and booked two second-team All-Pro spots (2022, ’23). The popular New York nose tackle then tallied nine sacks in just 12 games in 2024. That led to a push for at least a deal revision in 2025, but the Giants only provided incentives.
While Lawrence has requested a trade based largely on extension talks not progressing, his timing is not great. The Clemson alum is coming off a regression, totaling just a half-sack and a career-low eight QB hits. Lawrence eclipsed 20 hits in 2022 and ’23, and even with Leonard Williams gone by 2024, Lawrence remained in high gear. Joe Schoen also posited some of Lawrence’s 2025 statistical issues stemmed from the elbow dislocation he sustained in 2024. That comment likely resonated with Lawrence’s camp, but the Giants do not seem eager to appease the disgruntled player.
The Giants are eyeing neither a trade nor a raise, with the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz indicating the team does not look to have a strong desire to reward Lawrence after last season. The team would prefer Lawrence play out his current deal, which has two years remaining. No guaranteed money is left on the contract, and John Harbaugh said he anticipated Lawrence skipping the start of the team’s offseason program.
“The Giants, speaking for the Giants, we want Dexter here,” Harbaugh said, via Schwartz. “I believe Dexter wants to be here. That’s a good formula. But there’s business involved. It’s a business proposition. We know it’s pro football. These things happen every year pretty much on every team. Not surprised by it. Saw it coming a few weeks back probably.”
The new Giants HC called Lawrence “super important” earlier this year, as the Giants made it clear he would not be traded to free up any cap space. Rumblings about a trade price matching or exceeding what the Cowboys sent the Jets for Quinnen Williams — a 2027 first-rounder, a 2026 second along with DT Mazi Smith — has surfaced, but Schwartz adds the Giants would need to be “blown away” by a proposal to consider moving on.
“I don’t know that granting a request is really the right way to say it, because it doesn’t really work that way,” Harbaugh said. “It’s not like a Christmas gift, it just doesn’t work like that.”
As the DT market shifted in 2023, Harbaugh was part of a key standoff that offseason. He and the Ravens held firm against Lamar Jackson‘s trade request and worked out an extension for the superstar quarterback. This Lawrence situation represents Harbaugh’s first notable test on the contract front as the Giants’ top decisionmaker.
How New York proceeds could reveal how much power Schoen still has. The hire of longtime NFL exec Dawn Aponte as VP of football ops undercut the GM’s organizational influence. She and Harbaugh running the show may not be great news for Lawrence, a Dave Gettleman draftee whom Schoen extended.
A hardline stance will not go over well with the decorated D-lineman’s camp, either, as he has fallen to No. 11 in terms of DT AAV ($22.5MM). Lawrence, 28, also played out the guarantees on his contract. That point of a deal regularly spurs action, and Lawrence is proceeding down this path.
It sounds like the Giants are prepared to wait out the eighth-year standout, who is due a nonguaranteed $18.5MM base salary this season. Lawrence’s next step will be to withhold services at mandatory minicamp. That would bring a small fine. This dragging to training camp would certainly be interesting, as Lawrence would then be put to a hold-in or holdout decision.
Players almost never sit out regular-season games in contract stalemates, though Chris Jones — the DT position’s current salary kingpin — did so in 2023. We are a ways away from Lawrence needing to make that call, but as an impact player on a defense that ranked 31st against the run last season, staying away from workouts will certainly command the attention of the new Giants regime.