Giants Deal Dexter Lawrence to Bengals, Securing No. 10 Pick in Major Trade

Giants Deal Dexter Lawrence to Bengals, Securing No. 10 Pick in Major Trade

New York Giants star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence has officially requested a trade following stalled contract negotiations with the franchise. The Cincinnati Bengals swiftly responded by agreeing to trade the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft for Lawrence, as reported by NFL Media. This move allows Lawrence to secure the new contract he desires in Cincinnati, while the Giants now possess two top-10 draft picks. Lawrence, a two-time Second Team All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler, is recognized as one of the premier interior defensive linemen in the NFL. However, his performance last season was notably subpar, with only 31 tackles and half a sack across 17 games. This decline in performance contributed to the Giants' reluctance to offer him a significant raise, according to CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones. The Bengals, who ranked 31st in total defense (allowing 380.9 total yards per game) and 30th in scoring defense (giving up 28.9 points per game), have been struggling defensively. They set an undesirable record by allowing 27 points and 350 total yards over eight consecutive games, a feat never seen before in NFL history, as highlighted by CBS Sports Research. Since 2011, the Bengals have drafted 62 defensive players, yet none have made a Pro Bowl. In response, Cincinnati has sought to bolster its defense by adding key players in free agency, including Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook, Jonathan Allen, and now, Lawrence. With this trade, the Giants now hold selections at No. 5 overall and No. 10 overall, providing them the opportunity to acquire two elite players that can kickstart the John Harbaugh era effectively. This is a developing story.

Source: CBS Sports - 2026-04-19