Giants’ Dexter Lawrence Requests Trade

Schefter notes contract negotiations have not yielded progress, and colleague Jordan Raanan confirms Lawrence “has not been happy for quite some time.” As things stand, two years remain on the 28-year-old’s contract. Lawrence is owed $20MM in 2026 and another $22MM the following season. The guaranteed money on his pact has run out, however, creating the need for a fresh round of extension talks.

GM Joe Schoen said in February negotiations would commence in Lawrence’s case. He also stated no serious consideration would be given to a trade, a reasonable stance given the Clemson product’s importance to New York’s defensive front. Lawrence was the subject of calls leading up to the 2025 trade deadline, but no deal was ever imminent. It will be interesting to see if things play out differently with the draft approaching.

Lawrence stood out with 7.5 sacks in 2022, and he set a new career high two seasons later with nine. In between those two years, a $22.5MM-per-year extension was worked out. The 2023 offseason saw several big-ticket defensive tackle contracts agreed to, and Lawrence fell in line with several other top producers at the time. Conversations on a new multiyear agreement did not produce an agreement last offseason, so a temporary fix was worked out. Incentives were added to Lawrence’s deal, but a lingering elbow injury resulted in a down year with respect to his production (0.5 sacks, 12 QB pressures).

Given that drop-off in statistical output, the Giants may be hard-pressed to arrive at a new figure which satisfies Lawrence’s asking price. The former first-rounder is tied for 11th in the NFL in terms of average annual value for defensive tackle contracts, and the position’s market has jumped since his last deal was signed. Given today’s update, at least, there is plenty of work to be done if a contract agreement is to be reached at any point this offseason. Failing any traction on that front, interest from outside suitors will no doubt pick up during the lead-in to the draft.

A second-team All-Pro in 2022 and ’23, Lawrence has been a full-time presence on defense since arriving in 2019. The former first-rounder enjoyed a long spell of impactful play against the pass, though his production from this past year could limit the willingness of at least some outside teams to part with draft capital and commit to an extension. On the other hand, New York’s depth along the defensive line aside from Lawrence is seen as a weakness. Moving on before or after the draft would create even more of a need on the interior as the Giants aim to take a needed step forward on defense in 2026.

The Giants are near the bottom of the NFL in terms of spending power at the moment. Reducing Lawrence’s 2026 cap hit ($26.96MM) would help in that regard, but an extension is clearly not imminent. Any trade processed before June 1 would generate roughly even figures in terms of cap savings and dead money charges. A swap after that date, by contrast, would give New York $20MM in savings while resulting in $6.96MM in dead money.