Former general manager Dave Gettleman will go down in New York Giants history as a villain. Between drafting a running back with the No. 2 pick, trading the franchise’s most iconic receiver, and signing several busts in free agency, the fanbase’s vitriol is understandable. But it wasn’t all bad.
In the Odell Beckham Jr. trade, the Giants received the No. 17 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Gettleman called defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and told him to get ready for East Rutherford.
Gettleman was criticized for the move based on Lawrence’s positional value as a nose tackle and (perceived) inability to impact the passing game. In recent years, Lawrence has put those concerns to rest and emerged as New York’s best player.
Subsequently, the Giants star challenged the top spot of Pro Football Focus’ defensive tackle rankings, ultimately falling behind only Kansas City Chiefs lineman Chris Jones.
“Lawrence logged only 550 snaps in 2024 due to some missed time, but he recorded an 89.0-plus PFF overall grade (89.9) for the third season in a row,” Trevor Sikkema wrote. “His 1.07 PFF WAR over the past three years sits behind only Chris Jones at the position.”
It has been easy to tune out New York given its struggles, but Lawrence shouldn’t be taken for granted. He’s more than a blue-chip talent and the center of this defense – he’s a force multiplier and one of the best pass-rushing nose tackles the game has ever seen.
Lawrence’s 2024 was cut short due to an elbow injury, and it may have robbed him of Defensive Player of the Year votes. In just 12 games, he logged a career-high nine sacks with 44 tackles and eight tackles for loss to boot.
In the two seasons prior, he rose to prominence and earned two second-team All-Pro nominations.
Lawrence is a mandatory double team who amplifies his edge rushers and can spoil plays by himself against the run and pass. There isn’t a nose tackle as potent in the NFL, and that unique skill set garners real consideration for the No. 1 spot at the position.