Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants
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(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
The San Francisco 49ers could have an opportunity to bolster their defense even more as the Niners are viewed as a top landing spot for New York Giants‘ Dexter Lawrence II, who has reportedly requested a trade.
On April 6,ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported, citing league sources, that Lawrence has requested a trade and will not participate in the team’s offseason workout program, which began on April 7.
Moreover, on April 7, a day after reporting his information, Schefter shared an update on the Lawrence trade requestduring an appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show.”
“I can tell you this: There are a good half-dozen teams,” Schefter said. “I spoke to some of them yesterday. They reached out after this came public, and there’s definitely going to be some interest in him. Whether something materializes or not, we don’t know.
“You can go through the history of this. When there are players who are not happy with their contractual situation and ask for a trade, those situations don’t always work out the way you’d want.”
Lawrence has two years left on his contract and is expected to earn $20 million this upcoming 2026 season, per the Schefter report.
49ers Viewed As Landing Spot for Dexter Lawrence II
As for the 49ers, Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton believes that the Niners are one of five teams that would make sense as an ideal landing spot for Lawrence. The defensive tackle would be arriving on a team looking to contend and could use the help in the interior defensive line.
Regarding the potential asking price, Moton notes that a 2026 2nd-rounder, a 2026 4th-rounder, and WR Brandon Aiyuk going to New York would be enough for San Francisco to land Lawrence.
“In March, the 49ers made a move to beef up the interior of their defensive front, trading a 2026 third-rounder to the Dallas Cowboys for Osa Odighizuwa,”Moton wrote in his April 6 article.
“Perhaps San Francisco isn’t done trying to revamp the unit under new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. Keep in mind that Alfred Collins had a quiet rookie campaign, logging 17 tackles (one for loss) and a sack.
“With a healthy Nick Bosa and 2025 first-rounder Mykel Williams on the edge, Lawrence and Odighizuwa would round out what could be an above-average defensive line.”
Giants Have a Decision to Make on Dexter Lawrence II
Moreover, in Schefter’s update following his appearance on McAfee’s show, he states that the Giants have a decision to make: Either pay Lawrence the money he’s seeking through a new contract or a modification, or move him ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, which approaches at the end of April.
“The Giants are going to have to handle this one way or another, you would think,” Schefter added. “Either the guy is going to have his contract modified in some way so he’s happier, because this has gone on now for the last two years, and I don’t think he was particularly happy last year or there’s going to be a team that steps up and makes an offer that’s compelling enough for them to consider moving on from Dexter Lawrence.
“Like, it’s one or the other. Status quo, I don’t think, works in this particular case. And so Dexter Lawrence, I think, was frustrated last year. I think teams are now on alert that maybe they could try to make a push to see if they can acquire him.”