After plenty of talk about whether or not the New York Giants would trade defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, it’s finally happening, according to a report from Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Late Saturday, April 18, Schefter sent a message out on X, stating, “Draft week blockbuster: The Giants are trading three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals in a deal that will include the 10th overall pick going to New York, per ESPN sources.”
He added, “The Giants now head into Thursday night with the 5th and 10th overall picks.”
Reaction to the move was swift. “Everyone praises the Bengals but giving up a top ten pick for a defensive tackle is terrible resource allocation,” one follower said on X. “Elite quarterbacks win championships, not interior linemen. Cincinnati severely overpaid for a non-premium defensive position when they needed offense.”
New York Giants Head Coach John Harbaugh Discussed the Dexter Lawrence Situation This Past Week
New Giants head coach John Harbaugh opened up about the Lawrence situation this week. Lawrence, of course, had two years remaining on the four-year, $90 million extension that he agreed to in 2023, but he requested a trade after negotiations paused. Also this week, multiple reports surfaced that he wanted a new team.
“We are working together to get the best outcome for the Giants team,” Harbaugh told Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. “We also respect Dexter fully as a person and player and want him to be happy. We are doing everything we can. As best we can. As responsibly as we can.”
More Reaction to New York Giants Trading Dexter Lawrence in Pre-Draft Move
News is usually pretty slow on a Saturday, so people were just waiting for something to break. Followers on social media were quick to do so.
“Two top-10 picks? That’s a dream scenario,” one stated on X. “Sure, losing Lawrence hurts, but this gives us a chance to rebuild the trenches and maybe grab a franchise QB or elite WR. The future looks bright.”
“Dexter Lawrence in a Bengals uniform?” another said. “The trenches in Cincinnati just got a massive upgrade. Good luck finding a running lane against that.”
“Giants are in full teardown mode and getting the 10th pick for Lawrence is smart business. Now they have two top 10 picks to reshape that roster. Bengals better hope Lawrence stays healthy,” another follower added.
“That’s a massive move if it holds up. Trading a cornerstone like Dexter Lawrence isn’t easy, but turning it into a top-10 pick gives the Giants serious flexibility either rebuild key areas or make another aggressive move,” another stated. “Still, Bengals getting that kind of interior presence could shift the balance in the AFC. High risk, high reward on both sides.”
So, the jury is out on this trade deal, but early on, it appears Bengals fans are pretty happy with the move. Either way, the New York Giants needed to shake things up for this draft, and this trade is one way Harbaugh is putting his stamp on this team.
Giants Officially Trade Dexter Lawrence: Report