Dexter Lawrence, Giants
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New York Giants defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence reacting after an NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys.
New York Giants defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence has requested a trade.
NFL Insider Matt Lombardo revealed that the New York Jets are best positioned to land the big man this offseason.
“Might Lawrence be about to live the inverse of Leonard Williams’ reality? Williams, originally chosen by the New York Jets with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, was dealt across town to the Giants for a pair of draft picks, back in 2019,” Lombardo wrote in a column for “Between The Hashmarks.”
“There isn’t a team in the league better positioned from a draft capital standpoint (five first-round picks over the next two years), nor a cap space standpoint, with $39.5 million in cap space this offseason and $151.5 million in 2027 to acquire Lawrence,” Lombardo explained.
Lawrence, 28, will turn 29 during the 2026 season. He has two years remaining on his $87.5 million contract.
“There are 31 NFL teams who should be inquiring about Dexter Lawrence. Damn right the Jets should want to be interested,” beat reporter Nick Faria of Jets X-Factor posted on social media.
Nick “Mike Farrell” Faria
There are 31 NFL teams who should be inquiring about Dexter Lawrence.
Damn right the #Jets should want to be interested.
Just Because You Can Doesn’t Mean You Should
Could the Jets pull off this move? Sure, they could.
The green and white have the fifth most cap space ($39.5 million) in the NFL, per Over The Cap. The Jets have ample draft assets. They could use an impact defender who is a two-time second-team All-Pro.
However, the Jets should resist the urge.
First, let’s start with the trade price. NFL Insider Connor Hughes of SNY said, “The most common expected return value: a late 2026 first-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick, or a second-and fifth-round pick.”
On top of trading an asset for Lawrence, you would then have to pay him.
“One source expected him to demand $30 million annually. Another front office source, because of the salary cap increase, foresaw something closer to $35 million,” Hughes revealed.
The floor of those negotiations would make Lawrence the second-highest-paid defensive tackle in the NFL. However, that ceiling would completely reset the market, making Lawrence the highest-paid DT in the league, per Over The Cap.
Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs currently holds the highest-paid crown for DTs with his $31.75 million annual salary.
Timelines Simply Don’t Match Up
The Jets are a rebuilding team. If they wanted to keep a big, salaried, talented defensive tackle, they could have just held onto Quinnen Williams.
To trade Williams away six months ago, only to replace him with another big-money veteran, doesn’t track.
There are plenty of reasons to steer clear, including what transpired last season.
Lawrence started all 17 games last season for the Giants and had a down year. He finished with half a sack and eight quarterback hits, which were both career-worst figures.
“He played last season overweight and out of shape … He hasn’t had a full sack in 22 games … [Joe] Schoen referenced an elbow injury that wasn’t ever right as justification for his drop in production, but it’s impossible to ignore what he looked like when on the field,” Hughes bluntly wrote.
That doesn’t sound like a player the Jets should be in a rush to acquire.