{"id":859995,"date":"2026-04-08T01:13:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T01:13:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/859995\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T01:13:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T01:13:18","slug":"why-bills-trade-for-giants-dexter-lawrence-makes-sense-for-buffalo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/859995\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Bills Trade for Giants Dexter Lawrence Makes Sense for Buffalo"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"inline-text-0\" class=\"mt-[18px] md:mt-0 mb-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6d\">When Dexter Lawrence <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/bills\/onsi\/could-bills-pull-off-a-blockbuster-dexter-lawrence-trade\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">reportedly requested a trade<\/a> on Tuesday, the Buffalo Bills were immediately floated as a potential suitor for the New York Giants\u2019 three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-1\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6g\">And when you dig deeper, a deal between the Bills and Giants makes a whole lot of sense, particularly for a team such as Buffalo, which is hoping to deliver a significant boost along its defensive front this season.<\/p>\n<p>Need for additional\u00a0support<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/01knn26qsm4a99x7xsqq.jpg\" alt=\"Dexter Lawrence\" title=\"Dexter Lawrence\" width=\"2855\" height=\"2855\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full blur-[5px]\" q:id=\"6t\"\/><\/p>\n<p>New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) and Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Spencer Brown (79) shove one another after a play during the second half at Highmark Stadium. | Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-4\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"6x\">The Bills will welcome back two second-year DTs in TJ Sanders and Deone Walker, while veteran Ed Oliver also returns <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/bills\/onsi\/injuries-ed-oliver-s-return-not-out-of-question-for-possible-bills-divisional-round-matchup-rumors-nfl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">after another injury-plagued season<\/a> in 2025. Beyond that trio, the Bills don\u2019t have much to speak of at the defensive tackle position, where Lawrence would immediately step in and pack a punch from the nose tackle position, both in run support and in his ability to get after opposing quarterbacks.<\/p>\n<p>Pass-rushing prowess<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/01knn27t9k05eysx4ymw.jpg\" alt=\"Dexter Lawrence\" title=\"Dexter Lawrence\" width=\"3887\" height=\"3887\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full blur-[5px]\" q:id=\"7a\"\/><\/p>\n<p>New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (97) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-7\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7e\">Since the 2022 season, Lawrence leads the NFL with 108 quarterback pressures while aligned at nose tackle, according to\u00a0Sharp Football Analysis,\u00a0which is the most in the league during that span by a significant margin. The player with the second-most pressures from such an alignment is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers\u2019 Vita Vea, who has totaled just 32 over that same four-year period.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-8\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7h\">Buffalo finished the 2025 season with <a href=\"https:\/\/pro.nfl.com\/stats\/team-defense\/season?sortKey=qbp&amp;sortValue=DESC&amp;season=2025&amp;seasonType=REG&amp;tab=overview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the sixth-fewest QB pressures in the NFL<\/a> (187), per NFL Pro and Lawrence\u2019s addition would help the Bills\u2019 pass rush boost that number significantly.<\/p>\n<p>Previous relationship<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/01knn2depkzdzty6gw7x.jpg\" alt=\"Joe Schoen\" title=\"Joe Schoen\" width=\"2667\" height=\"2667\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full blur-[5px]\" q:id=\"7u\"\/><\/p>\n<p>New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen introduces John Harbaugh (not pictured) as the next New York Giants head coach at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. | Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-11\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"7y\">As Brandon Beane always says, it takes two sides to complete a trade of such magnitude. With that said, the Bills\u2019 president of football operations\/general manager would be dealing with a familiar face during any negotiation, as his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/bills\/onsi\/news\/bills-lose-assistant-gm-joe-schoen-to-giants\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">former assistant general manager<\/a>, Joe Schoen, is now the Giants\u2019 general manager.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-12\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"81\">Perhaps dealing\u00a0with a friend may help Beane, who is notorious for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/bills\/onsi\/free-agency-bills-pursuit-maxx-crosby-trade-detailed-revealing-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">coming ever so close<\/a> to completing many blockbuster deals, get this one over the finish line.<\/p>\n<p>The downside<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/01knn2k4bnm82az5r1tg.jpg\" alt=\"Dexter Lawrence\" title=\"Dexter Lawrence\" width=\"3757\" height=\"3757\" class=\"undefined w-full w-full blur-[5px]\" q:id=\"8e\"\/><\/p>\n<p>New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) looks on before the game against the Green Bay Packers at MetLife Stadium. | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-15\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8i\">There is a drawback to a potential trade between Buffalo and New York, and that is Lawrence\u2019s future financial compensation. Lawrence has a sizable cap hit for both the 2026 and 2027 seasons, while he is also seeking a contract extension from whichever team trades for him.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-16\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8l\">There are reports that Lawrence will be looking to ink a deal paying him between $27 million and $30M annually. With the Bills\u2019 current salary-cap situation, completing a move for the Giants\u2019 DT would require Buffalo to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/bills\/onsi\/buffalo-bills-can-create-over-39m-in-salary-cap-space-with-four-smart-moves\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">move some money around<\/a> elsewhere on its books.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-17\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8o\">Additionally, a trade package for Lawrence would likely require the Bills to give up at least a first-round pick, which would be somewhat tricky for a team that ranks 27th in draft capital over the next two years, according to\u00a0NFL IQ.<\/p>\n<p>Take the leap<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-19\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8u\">So, while a potential trade for Lawrence isn&#8217;t a perfect fit for the Bills, it is well worth taking a chance on a player who would help bolster a unit that was lacking a season ago. It may be difficult to pull off, but Buffalo should think long and hard about moving heaven and earth to acquire Lawrence before the regular season kicks off.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-20\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"8x\">Sign up to our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/bills\/onsi\/newsletter\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">free newsletter and follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram<\/a>\u00a0for the latest news.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.minutemediacdn.com\/platform\/google_discover_icon.svg\" class=\"shrink-0\"\/>Add us as a preferred source on Google<a aria-label=\"Follow si.com on Google News\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=si.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" class=\"flex h-[30px] w-[30px] shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-primary font-group-large text-sm font-medium text-white transition-colors hover:bg-secondary focus:bg-secondary md:w-auto md:gap-2.5 md:px-4 md:py-[5px]\">Follow<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When Dexter Lawrence reportedly requested a trade on Tuesday, the Buffalo Bills were immediately floated as a potential&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":859996,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[2048],"tags":[215,214,53,2086,7,6],"class_list":{"0":"post-859995","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-buffalo-bills","8":"tag-bills","9":"tag-buffalo","10":"tag-buffalo-bills","11":"tag-buffalobills","12":"tag-football","13":"tag-nfl"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116366439801311254","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/859995","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=859995"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/859995\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/859996"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=859995"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=859995"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=859995"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}