The New York Giants will begin Phase One of voluntary offseason workouts on Tuesday, which will run for two weeks, as teams with new head coaches start earlier than others. Phase One is limited to team meetings, strength and conditioning, and rehab, with live contact, team drills, and on-field coaching prohibited. Highlighting one potential “holdout” is three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II.
Lawrence has repeatedly expressed frustration with the team’s defensive struggles and losing record throughout last season. He is coming off a disappointing 2025 campaign, recording career lows in tackles and sacks, with 31 tackles, four TFLs, 34 pressures, eight quarterback hits, 0.5 sacks, one interception, and four pass breakups across 17 games, as the defense allowed the seventh-most points and the fifth-most yards.
New York Giants’ 3x-Pro Bowler wants out, requests trade
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Jul 23, 2025; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) talks with media during training camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
According to Adam Schefter, Dexter Lawrence II will not be participating in the team’s voluntary offseason workout program and has since requested a trade. With a pre-June 1st trade, the Giants would free up $13 million in cap space while taking on $13.9 million as dead cap. If the front office trades him after June 1 (a post-June 1 trade designation does not exist), they would clear $20 million in cap space and take on $6.9 million in dead cap in 2026 and 2027, per Over The Cap.
ESPN sources: Giants All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence has requested a trade and he will not be participating in the team’s off-season workout program that opens Tuesday.
Lawrence and the Giants have been through two off seasons attempting to negotiate a contract… pic.twitter.com/WUSTNxmeGh
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 6, 2026
Here’s what a trading team would inherit
New York Giants Dexter Lawrence
Oct 9, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) runs onto the field prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
A trading team would inherit the base salary, any guaranteed money, and bonuses, including roster, workout, per-game active, and option bonuses, essentially a two-year, $42 million contract with zero guaranteed money. Dexter Lawrence II is scheduled to earn a non-guaranteed $18.5 million base salary, a per-game active bonus worth up to $1 million, a $500,000 workout bonus, and $20 million in cash in 2026. Lastly, the three-time Pro Bowler will earn a non-guaranteed $18 million base salary, a $2.5 million roster bonus due March 19, a per-game active bonus worth up to $1 million, a $500,000 workout bonus, and $22 million in cash in 2027.
Teams will likely ask the Giants to eat a portion of his salary or restructure the contract once a trade is finalized.