![\"Dexter](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Dexter-Lawrence-8-e1776558652348.jpg\")
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – MAY 30: Dexter Lawrence II #97 of the New York Giants speaks to the media during OTA Offseason Workouts at NY Giants Quest Diagnostics Training Center on May 30, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Luke Hales\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
The Chicago Bears,<\/a> despite recent pleas from a part of the fanbase, will now focus entirely on building the roster through the 2026 NFL Draft with massive news regarding New York Giants<\/a> star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.<\/a><\/p>\n According to NFL<\/a> Network\u2019s Mike Garafolo, the Giants have traded Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals<\/a> in exchange for the 10th overall pick in the draft.<\/p>\n \u201cCincy Dexy: The #Giants are trading DT Dexter Lawrence to the #Bengals in exchange for the 10th overall pick in next week\u2019s NFL Draft, sources tell me and @RapSheet.\u00a0 Lawrence gets a new deal from his new team while picks 5 and 10 now run through East Rutherford.\u201d<\/p>\n There was a general consensus that Lawrence wouldn\u2019t play for the Giants next season, given a report that his wish was to \u201cnot suit up for the Giants again.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe wants out,\u201d New York Post senior reporter Paul Schwartz wrote.<\/a> Now, Lawrence gets his wish, but it\u2019s not with the Bears.<\/p>\n Cincy Dexy: The #Giants<\/a> are trading DT Dexter Lawrence to the #Bengals<\/a> in exchange for the 10th overall pick in next week\u2019s NFL Draft, sources tell me and @RapSheet<\/a>. <\/p>\n Lawrence gets a new deal from his new team while picks 5 and 10 now run through East Rutherford. <\/p>\n Bears Receive Final Verdict on Dexter Lawrence with Massive Giants-Bengals News<\/p>\n It would have been great to add a player of Dexter Lawrence\u2019s caliber, but the financials would have made it nearly impossible for the Bears.<\/p>\n Chicago is currently dead last (around $200k) in available cap space, according to OvertheCap.com,<\/a> and even if they were to restructure some contracts or cut a player, that move would have been for the contracts the Bears are going to hand out to this year\u2019s draft class.<\/p>\n The crazy part is the Giants were not only able to net a first-round pick in return, but it was a top-ten selection. The Bears would have had to give up at least pick 25 and additional draft capital to one-up the Bengals\u2019 offer.<\/p>\n It\u2019s best Chicago stayed out of this trade and focus on adding talent through the draft.<\/p>\n ESPN Analyst Weighs in on What the Bears Should Do in Round 1<\/p>\n Defensive tackle is a huge need for the Bears, nonetheless, but ESPN\u2019s Ben Solak made his case<\/a> on why Chicago has multiple avenues that are available during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Bears would really need to swing for the fences to find an Edge1 or DT1 at No. 25, especially with this poor defensive tackle class,\u201d Solak wrote. \u201cI love the idea of taking a\u00a0Caleb Banks\u00a0(Florida) or\u00a0Peter Woods (Clemson), as both come with tantalizing upside despite high risk. A healthy Banks would change the complexion of this Bears defense immediately.<\/p>\n Alternatively, the Bears could trade back and take a more patient approach, hoping to solve the defensive line problem with a midseason trade or internal development. They need a starting safety opposite\u00a0Coby Bryant, as both\u00a0Kevin Byard<\/a> III\u00a0and\u00a0Jaquan Brisker<\/a>\u00a0left in free agency. They could also use a contender for CB2 to challenge\u00a0Tyrique Stevenson\u00a0(in a contract year) and a center to challenge\u00a0Garrett Bradbury<\/a>\u00a0(a low-end acquisition after Drew Dalman<\/a> retired). I could even see the Bears going for a receiver early to put pressure on\u00a0Rome Odunze<\/a>\u00a0or an early running back to put pressure on\u00a0D\u2019Andre Swift<\/a>. And how worried are they about left tackle following\u00a0Ozzy Trapilo\u2019s injury?\u201d<\/p>\n In a year where there\u2019s depth at multiple positions of need, the Bears\u2019 best bet would be attempting to trade down and gain some additional draft capital.<\/p>\n Besides, the player they might want at 25 could very well be available in the 30s range.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Bears\n\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t