The Bengals have traded their first-round draft pick for one of the NFL’s top defensive tackles.According to a press release put out by the team on Sunday morning, the Bengals have given up their first pick in next week’s NFL Draft — which will be the 10th overall — for Dexter Lawrence II of the New York Giants.With the signing, the Bengals say that Lawrence is set to be under contract with the team through the end of the 2028 season.Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin says that Lawrence is exactly the type of defensive star that Cincinnati was looking to add over the offseason.”The opportunity to add a player of Dexter’s ability was too good to pass up thanks to the commitment by Mr. Brown, Katie Blackburn, Troy Blackburn, Paul Brown and our player personnel staff,” said Tobin. “Dexter fits the vision we have on our defense and will also elevate others around him. 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. We are excited to turn to the draft and our remaining picks to further enhance our team.”Bengals head coach Zac Taylor also expressed enthusiasm for the trade.”We are excited to add Dexter to our team,” said Taylor. “He has been a dominant player in the league since he was drafted, and he will be a tremendous presence on the field and in our locker room.”ESPN was the first to report on the deal made between the Bengals and Giants on Saturday night.”Draft week blockbuster,” wrote Schefter of the reported deal. “The Giants are trading three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals in a deal that will include the 10th overall pick going to New York, per ESPN sources. The Giants now head into Thursday night with the 5th and 10th overall picks.”ESPN followed up with additional reporting on Sunday morning, saying that Lawrence had passed his physical in Cincinnati and soon afterward signed a one-year, $28 million extension with the team, guaranteeing that he will be under contract with the Bengals for at least three seasons.Lawrence, 28, has been with the Giants for his entire NFL career since being drafted in 2019.In that time, Lawrence has made the Pro-Bowl three times in his career in back-to-back years between 2022 and 2024. He also was named second team All-Pro by the Associated Press in 2022 and 2023.In his most recent season in the NFL, Lawrence saw 31 total tackles and 0.5 sacks over the 17 games that he played in. However, this was a decline from the standout numbers that he put up in the 2024 season, where he achieved 44 total tackles and nine sacks over 12 games, earning him a Pro-Bowl nod that year. On Sunday morning, Lawrence could be seen arriving in Cincinnati. WLWT cameras caught the moment that Lawrence’s plane touched down at Lunken Airport, with the team set to introduce him to fans in a press conference that is scheduled for 10:40 a.m. on Monday morning.This comes as the Bengals previously made a variety of moves to shore up their defense in early March, including the acquisition of safety Bryan Cook, defensive end Boye Mafe, and defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, all of whom were free agents.More recently, the Bengals just two weeks ago announced two more free agent signings as safety Kyle Dugger and cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor were added to the team’s roster.Shortly after the trade, former Bengals defensive tackle and Ring of Honor inductee Tim Krumrie told WLWT’s Charlie Clifford that he was ecstatic about the acquisition.“How do you build a house? Foundation first. Quickest way to the QB? Right up the middle,” said Krumrie. “Dexter Lawrence will raise the play from everyone around him. Mike Brown wants to go to the show (SB LXI),”After the trade news was reported by ESPN, Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins also took to X to post a video of him doing a dance popularized by Lawrence that Higgins imitated during this year’s Pro Bowl in February.”A lot of this in the jungle huh,” wrote Higgins with a laughing emoji.

The Bengals have traded their first-round draft pick for one of the NFL’s top defensive tackles.

According to a press release put out by the team on Sunday morning, the Bengals have given up their first pick in next week’s NFL Draft — which will be the 10th overall — for Dexter Lawrence II of the New York Giants.

With the signing, the Bengals say that Lawrence is set to be under contract with the team through the end of the 2028 season.

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Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin says that Lawrence is exactly the type of defensive star that Cincinnati was looking to add over the offseason.

“The opportunity to add a player of Dexter’s ability was too good to pass up thanks to the commitment by Mr. Brown, Katie Blackburn, Troy Blackburn, Paul Brown and our player personnel staff,” said Tobin. “Dexter fits the vision we have on our defense and will also elevate others around him. 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. We are excited to turn to the draft and our remaining picks to further enhance our team.”

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor also expressed enthusiasm for the trade.

“We are excited to add Dexter to our team,” said Taylor. “He has been a dominant player in the league since he was drafted, and he will be a tremendous presence on the field and in our locker room.”

ESPN was the first to report on the deal made between the Bengals and Giants on Saturday night.

“Draft week blockbuster,” wrote Schefter of the reported deal. “The Giants are trading three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals in a deal that will include the 10th overall pick going to New York, per ESPN sources. The Giants now head into Thursday night with the 5th and 10th overall picks.”

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Draft week blockbuster: The Giants are trading three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals in a deal that will include the 10th overall pick going to New York, per ESPN sources.

The Giants now head into Thursday night with the 5th and 10th overall picks. pic.twitter.com/cV6Qobp6Aq

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 19, 2026

ESPN followed up with additional reporting on Sunday morning, saying that Lawrence had passed his physical in Cincinnati and soon afterward signed a one-year, $28 million extension with the team, guaranteeing that he will be under contract with the Bengals for at least three seasons.

Lawrence, 28, has been with the Giants for his entire NFL career since being drafted in 2019.

In that time, Lawrence has made the Pro-Bowl three times in his career in back-to-back years between 2022 and 2024. He also was named second team All-Pro by the Associated Press in 2022 and 2023.

In his most recent season in the NFL, Lawrence saw 31 total tackles and 0.5 sacks over the 17 games that he played in. However, this was a decline from the standout numbers that he put up in the 2024 season, where he achieved 44 total tackles and nine sacks over 12 games, earning him a Pro-Bowl nod that year.

On Sunday morning, Lawrence could be seen arriving in Cincinnati. WLWT cameras caught the moment that Lawrence’s plane touched down at Lunken Airport, with the team set to introduce him to fans in a press conference that is scheduled for 10:40 a.m. on Monday morning.

This comes as the Bengals previously made a variety of moves to shore up their defense in early March, including the acquisition of safety Bryan Cook, defensive end Boye Mafe, and defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, all of whom were free agents.

More recently, the Bengals just two weeks ago announced two more free agent signings as safety Kyle Dugger and cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor were added to the team’s roster.

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Bengals defensive offseason additions:

Dexter Lawrence
Bryan Cook
Boye Mafe
Jonathan Allen
Kyle Dugger
Ja’sir Taylor

Arguably the most aggressive offseason on one side of the ball in franchise history

— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) April 19, 2026

Shortly after the trade, former Bengals defensive tackle and Ring of Honor inductee Tim Krumrie told WLWT’s Charlie Clifford that he was ecstatic about the acquisition.

“How do you build a house? Foundation first. Quickest way to the QB? Right up the middle,” said Krumrie. “Dexter Lawrence will raise the play from everyone around him. Mike Brown wants to go to the show (SB LXI),”

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Just got off the phone with Bengals Hall of Famer Tim Krumie. He’s ecstatic.

“How do you build a house? Foundation first. Quickest way to the QB? Right up the middle.”

“Dexter Lawrence will raise the play from everyone around him. Mike Brown wants to go to the show (SB LXI).”

— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) April 19, 2026

After the trade news was reported by ESPN, Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins also took to X to post a video of him doing a dance popularized by Lawrence that Higgins imitated during this year’s Pro Bowl in February.

“A lot of this in the jungle huh,” wrote Higgins with a laughing emoji.

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