Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor was “shocked.”
The Bengals traded for star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence in the middle of April. And after the trade was finalized, Lawrence stuck around in Cincinnati and participated in all of the team’s offseason program.
“He just jumped right in and decided not to miss a day initially,” Taylor said. “That just shows the excitement he has to be here with these guys in the locker room. Having a chance to meet with him one-on-one several times, I love the personality.”
Lawrence was a four-time team captain when he played for the New York Giants, and he’s embracing the opportunity to step right into a leadership role on the Bengals.
He poured into the film of his new teammates, and he has been a vocal presence on the practice field during OTAs.
“I wanted to get in the flow of communicating with people who have never worked with me before,” Lawrence said. “I let them know who I am and things I like to do. Things that have helped me through my career.”
The Lawrence trade immediately improved the vibes around the team. The Bengals acquired the best player at a position that was an area of weakness on the roster, and the trade was an aggressive move that showed confidence in this year’s team’s ability to win it all.
Cincinnati Bengals: Putting aside injury doubts shows tight end All he can make an impact again
“He’s such a positive person,” defensive coordinator Al Golden said. “When you meet him, he’s very engaging. I think he’s an uplifter. I think he’s a mentor. He’s a leader. Just in the short time I’ve been exposed to him it’s really impressive. He makes everybody around him better.”
Lawrence is one of the most-often double-teamed defensive linemen in the entire NFL, and his presence should also generate opportunities for teammates like Myles Murphy, Boye Mafe, BJ Hill and Jonathan Allen to make plays.
Following a 2025 season where Lawrence had a career-low one-half of a sack, Lawrence also gets to work on his technique during OTAs. He’s focusing on details like his pad level and his hands, and he spoke positively about the insight that the coaching staff has provided.
He’s also really impressed with the feedback that he’s getting from his new teammates on the Bengals’ offensive line.
“The O-Line really sticks together,” Lawrence said. “It’s different from anything I’ve seen. They have good personalities. It’s cool to talk to them and see how they feel about different formations and sets.”
Lawrence can help Cincinnati’s defense take the next step. And a change of scenery could also be really helpful for Lawrence himself.
He has been in the NFL since 2019, and he won six-or-fewer games in six of his seven seasons with the New York Giants. He played for four head coaches. Eli Manning, Daniel Jones, Colt McCoy, Mike Glennon, Jake Fromm, Davis Webb, Tyrod Taylor, Tommy DeVito, Drew Lock, Jameis Winton, Russell Wilson and Jaxson Dart all made starts at quarterback during Lawrence’s tenure in New York.
Expectations are a lot different in the locker room when Joe Burrow is your quarterback.
“I like how everyone gets along with each other,” Lawrence said about the Bengals. “There are a lot of grown men in here.”