Giants Trade Dexter Lawrence to Bengals

The New York Giants have reportedly traded star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals. This deal includes the Bengals’ No. 10 pick in this year’s NFL Draft.

Lawrence, now 28 years old, has been looking for a new contract, but he’s just coming off his first season without a Pro Bowl selection since 2021. There have been indications lately that he was asking for a trade from New York, especially with the arrival of new head coach John Harbaugh, who is focused on reshaping the team.

This hefty, 340-pound defensive lineman is a three-time Pro Bowler. It’s been a challenging season for him. Nevertheless, he has consistently been one of the Giants’ standout defensive players ever since they selected him in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft from Clemson.

In his career with the Giants, Lawrence has accumulated 30.5 sacks, 15 pass breakups, and 341 tackles over 109 games. Last season marked a milestone for him—he played a full 17 games for the first time and recorded one interception, 31 tackles, and half a sack.

Lawrence signed a four-year contract extension worth about $87.5 million in 2023, but he has two years remaining on that deal. In 2026, his salary is set to be $18.5 million unless new negotiations take place.

As the Giants prepare for Harbaugh’s inaugural NFL Draft with both the fifth and tenth overall picks, the coach has significant influence over the draft strategy.