Dexter Lawrence Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Giants’ deal to send star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals for the No. 10 overall pick at the 2026 NFL Draft is done, the team announced Sunday morning.
Lawrence, who passed his physical after the trade was agreed upon Saturday night, agreed to a one-year, $28 million contract extension with Cincinnati, meaning he is now under team control for the next three seasons.
The 28-year-old, still considered one of the top interior linemen in the game despite a down 2025 season, requested either a trade or a re-worked contract earlier this month. He had two years left on the four-year, $90 million extension he had previously signed, paying him $19.5 million per year.
Lawrence’s sudden availability on the trade market was something that Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin said was “too good to pass up,” in a statement made on Sunday morning.
“Dexter fits the vision we have on our defense and will also elevate others around him,” Tobin said. “We are confident in Dexter and can’t wait to see the positive effects he and the other players we have acquired this offseason have on our football team.”
The trade provided a swift resolution to new head coach John Harbaugh’s first bout of adversity as Giants head coach. With it, he lands a second top-10 draft pick to add to the war chest for Thursday night’s selection process, which is headlined by the No. 5 overall pick. Big Blue has eight picks in total at this year’s draft.
New York’s list of needs this offseason is lengthy, but two early picks offer the possibility of acquiring a pair of blue-chip talents to immediately install on the roster in hopes of taking a significant step toward rebuilding an organization that has won seven combined games over the last two years. Among their weakest positions is the offensive line and secondary — positions that could be addressed in the form of Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa.
The Giants have also been heavily linked to Notre Dame running back Jaremyiah Love.
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