The New York Giants aren’t running out of defensive tackles to host before the 2026 NFL draft, and that’s a good thing when star nose tackle Dexter Lawrence II wants a trade and might be attracting the attention of Super Bowl LX champions the Seattle Seahawks.
Big Blue hosted “#Mizzou defensive lineman Chris McClellan, a Day 2 pick” on Wednesday, April 15, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The latter also noted McClellan is a “DT who can also rush the passer, McClellan also has visits with the #Broncos, #Raiders, #Panthers, #AZCardinals, and #49ers.”
McClellan’s ability to put heat on the pocket is significant since that’s the core strength of All-Pro Lawrence’s game. The 28-year-old wants to be dealt and he’s going to have no shortage of suitors, but the Seahawks would stand out amongst the crowd.
Especially if, as Emerald City Spectrum’s Corbin K. Smith put it, “You know John Schneider is in on this. Only a $13 million cap charge for acquiring team in 2026.”
This looks like more than just idle speculation from Smith. Not least because Seahawks general manager John Schneider has a history of raiding the Giants for defensive tackle help.
Seahawks a Logical Trade Fit for Dexter Lawrence
Smith’s take about potential interest from Schneider in trading for Lawrence has credence. Mostly because Schneider was part of the deal that sent Lawrence’s former running mate, D-tackle Leonard Williams, to Seattle.
Williams was swapped for a pair of draft picks during the 2023 season. He’s since go on to become a bedrock player at the heart of the NFL’s toughest defense, but Williams may need some help in the very near future.
The duo of Williams and narrative-changing young nose tackle Byron Murphy II remains a formidable double act, but top reserve Jarran Reed is 33. So is DeMarcus Lawrence, who can also slide inside, but has been the subject of retirement speculation this offseason.
Adding Lawrence to the mix would make an already dominant defense a nightmare. A trade with the Seahawks could also solve a sticky problem for the Giants and the cornerstone of their front seven.
Negotiations over a new contract are at a standoff, with Paul Schwartz of the New York Post reporting “Dexter wants to be traded,” and “His time with the Giants is over.”
The Giants are content to bide their time, but it makes sense for the team to run the rule over possible replacements.
Giants Loading Up on Defensive Tackle Visits
McClellan isn’t the only defensive tackle eligible for the draft to visit with the Giants. His name stands out because of an aptitude for getting to quarterbacks, exemplified by logging six sacks during his final season in the SEC, per Sports Reference.
Adding eight tackles for loss shows McClellan has a talent for getting into the backfield. That’s what Lawrence has done when at his best.
Although he was far from his best in 2025, trading big No. 97 away, maybe to reunite with Williams, would be a tough pill to swallow. The Giants would ease the disappointment by snagging an active interior disruptor like McClellan early in this draft, and maybe combining him with a proven run-stuffer still available in free agency.
Giants Host Another DT Amid Seahawks, Dexter Lawrence Rumor