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Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.
The Detroit Lions could have an opportunity to pair Aidan Hutchinson with another star edge rusher with Dexter Lawrence reportedly hitting the trade block, but it would come at quite a high price for Detroit.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Lawrence has reached an impasse with the New York Giants and is now seeking a new home.
“New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II has requested a trade, and he will not be participating in the team’s offseason workout program that begins Tuesday, league sources told ESPN,” Schefter reported. “Lawrence and the Giants have been through two offseasons attempting to negotiate a contract reflecting his value to the team over the past three years, but there has not been any progress, per sources.”
The Lions have been named a contender for nearly all available pass rushers, but one insider believes the cost could be too high for them to pursue Lawrence.
In response to the rumors surrounding Lawrence, SI.com’s John Maakaron broke down what it would cost for the Lions to make a run at him. Maakaron noted that it might cost too much for Detroit’s cap-conscious front office.
“In order for Detroit to be able to afford the talented defender, they would likely be forced to restructure the contracts of Amon-Ra St. Brown or Penei Sewell,” Maakaron wrote. “Detroit’s front office has made it clear they want to remain fiscally responsible, given the players that are expecting contract extensions this offseason.”
Maakaron added that another potential wrinkle in trade plans — the need to include Alim McNeill in a trade package — could also be difficult to swallow.
“Parting ways with McNeill would tack on approximately $8.4 million owed on this year’s salary cap,” Maakaron wrote. “It is not supremely prohibitive, but not the strategy Holmes has made in his tenure as general manager.”
Giants Wary to Part With Dexter Lawrence
It’s not clear yet whether the Giants will honor Lawrence’s trade request. New head coach John Harbaugh was full of praise for the defensive lineman, telling reporters in February that he is a “cornerstone” of the defense.
Harbaugh may be reluctant to part ways with such an important player given the task he faces in rebuilding their defense.
“How important is he? Really important,” Harbaugh said, via ESPN. “He’s super, super important. He’s a cornerstone football player — not really a cornerstone, more like the middle stone. He’s right in the middle. He’s a very big stone, and he’s a very active, athletic one.”
Giants general manager Joe Schoen also hinted that the team could be willing to work on a long-term extension for Lawrence, keeping him in New Jersey.
“Yeah, again, we have a lot of those conversations as we continue to build or, to your point, open up money,” he said. “Like, where can we do it? Could we do an extension with other players? What does that look like? So we’re always having those conversations, not only with Dexter but on other players. And that’s part of our mapping out the offseason and planning.
Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty
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