Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants
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(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Vikings‘ defense was at the heart of the team ending the 2025 NFL season on a five-game win streak. Nonetheless, the defensive tackle does have question marks heading into the 2026 campaign.
Over the offseason, the Vikings cut ties with Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. As a result, Jalen Redmond might be the only reliable interior defensive lineman for Minnesota, which is why the Vikings received a prediction involving the New York Giants‘ Dexter Lawrence.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the two-time All-Pro has officially requested a trade, refusing to participate in the team’s offseason program this week as he searches for a new contract.
This stance from Lawrence is why Chris Landers of FanSided projects the Vikings trading the No. 49 pick and No. 97 pick for Lawrence.
“Releasing Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen underlines the need for Minnesota on the interior, and just imagine what sort of sick games Brian Flores could get up to with Lawrence attracting so much attention (and so many double teams),”Landers wrote in his April 6 article. “There’s also a ton of pressure on the Vikings this season; having Kyler Murray on the veteran’s minimum is an opportunity that doesn’t come around very often.
“Will Minnesota authorize such a big swing while still working under a de facto GM? That remains to be seen. But a second- and third-round pick should get the Giants’ attention, given how many needs they have elsewhere on the roster.”
Vikings Urged Not to Trade Draft Picks
Nonetheless, trading picks would go against what former Vikings linebacker Ben Leber wants the team to do at the draft. Leber wants Minnesota to use all their picks and not trade anything for next year’s draft.
“Even if one of these teams has called the Vikings and said, ‘Hey, [Vikings executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski], you looking to move up here?’ the answer is no,”Leber said on the April 2 edition of KFAN’s “Draft Talk.”
“We just need to gather as much talent as possible. There’s no reason for us to be sacrificing draft picks this year or next year or any of that. I’m all for keeping as many picks as possible and not moving up.”
Could Minnesota Reunite With Stefon Diggs?
Meanwhile, while interior defensive linemen are a need for the Vikings, so is a WR3 after the departure of Jalen Nailor. For CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell, he predicts Minnesota will go for a familiar face in Stefon Diggs to fill the wideout role behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, should the veteran wide receiver resolve his legal trouble.
“Diggs’ legal trouble is likely why he remains available,“Podell wrote in his CBS Sports article published on April 3. “Hepleaded not guilty to felony strangulation and other criminal charges following an alleged assault of his personal chef. Diggs’ attorney, Mitchell Schuster, claims his client is ‘completely innocent.‘
“If Diggs’ legal process is resolved, a homecoming to theMinnesota Vikings makes plenty of sense. Jalen Nailor departed for the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency, so there’s an opening at Minnesota’s WR3 spot after 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Justin Jefferson and former first-round pick Jordan Addison.”