Giants announce Lucas Patrick signing news amid Dexter Lawrence trade rumors
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The New York Giants signed free agent guard Lucas Patrick just after the Dexter Lawrence trade request news.
There was news that turned the New York Giants community upside down on April 6, as star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence requested a trade. But just after that report surfaced on X, the Giants announced news of their own, signing veteran guard Lucas Patrick.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport also reported on the Patrick signing, informing: “The Giants are adding to their O-line as they get ready to begin their offseason conditioning program, signing guard and center Lucas Patrick to a 1-year deal, per sources. Patrick has started 65 games in his career, mostly with the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears.”
Patrick was most recently a starter with the New Orleans Saints in 2024. He spent the 2025 campaign with the Cincinnati Bengals, but only appeared in 6 games due to injuries.
Giants Give Themselves Legitimate Starting Option at Right Guard With Lucas Patrick Signing News
This may not be the name fans were expecting to hear, but the Patrick signing does give the Giants a legitimate starting right guard option in 2026.
Before the move, the top RG candidates on the roster were Aaron Stinnie, Evan Neal, and Jake Kubas. None of whom has proven to be a reliable NFL starter.
Patrick may not be a high-end signing, but he does provide some security for now. And that also allows the Giants to focus on other positions in the NFL draft, if need be.
According to Pro Football Focus, Patrick has been an average interior offensive lineman with versatility throughout his career. He has logged over 2,000 snaps at center and over 2,300 snaps at left and/or right guard combined, with 3 snaps at left tackle.
Patrick has generally been pretty consistent as a run blocker, with grades ranging from 54.4 to 66.3 since 2020. Only the 2021 season yielded a sub-60.0 mark in the run-blocking department.
As a pass protector, Patrick has been far less consistent. His resume includes a few solid years and a few horrid ones.
In 2023, for example, Patrick was flagged for 11 penalties, allowing a career-high 28 quarterback pressures. His pass-blocking efficiency was also a staggeringly low 93.5% in 2022.
However, Patrick hasn’t been charged with a sack in any of the past three seasons. The veteran blocker also has pass-blocking marks above 60.0 in 2020, 2021, 2024, and 2025.
Dexter Lawrence Puts the Pressure on the Giants With Trade Request News
Dexter Lawrence trade request news overshadows Giants signing a right guard
GettyNew York Giants star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence’s trade request overshadowed the right guard news.
As the Giants focus on the start of offseason workouts and rounding out their roster ahead of the NFL draft, Lawrence sent the organization a clear message via his trade request.
According to those covering the team, this could just be a negotiating tactic from Lawrence, who has been ignored despite deserving a new deal for the past couple of years. Yes, the game-wrecking DT is coming off a down season, but he faces double-teams on most snaps and is believed to have played through injuries in 2025.
“Everyone knows Dexter Lawrence had a down 2025 season, but you can’t expect him to be satisfied with his contract while the likes of Milton Williams and Jordan Davis sign for $26M/year,” The Athletic’s Dan Duggan reacted on April 6. He added that “this day has been coming for a while.” And that it “will be fascinating to see how the Giants proceed.”
Similarly, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan commented that “Dexter Lawrence has not been happy for quite some time. It’s why Joe Schoen was being asked about Lawrence’s contract earlier this offseason.”
Finally, SNY Giants insider Connor Hughes took a bit of a different stance on the Lawrence news.
Responding: “The Giants, at the NFL Combine, were adamant they were not going to trade Dexter Lawrence. Big reason for that: [Defensive coordinator] Dennard Wilson stood on the table wanting to work with him, his importance to his defense. Obviously, Dexter has an opinion on this, too. And he wants out.”