Narrator: Dexter Lawrence did not go for a two and a five.<\/p>\n
The New York Giants have, in fact, traded their star lineman<\/a>, sending him to the Cincinnati Bengals for the No. 10 selection in this week’s NFL Draft. No, that is not a typo. The Bengals gave up the 10th overall pick for Lawrence.<\/p>\n Bengals’ massive overpay for Dexter Lawrence proves the Packers never stood a chance<\/p>\n It’s a stunning trade. It’s laughable, in fact.<\/p>\n Lawrence is a fantastic player, but the 10th selection in the draft?! For a 28-year-old defensive tackle coming off a disappointing season?! It’s a high-risk move for the Bengals, who paid a price way higher than anybody anticipated.<\/p>\n “Talking to several coaches around the NFL right now … they are STUNNED the Giants got what they did for Dexter Lawrence,” writes Connor Hughes of SNY<\/a>. “All agree: Very good player, but not worth No. 10.”<\/p>\n “Age, injury and concerns regarding his conditioning pointed out. Also that you need to limit the number of snaps he plays to maximize his production; really just a one position player.”<\/p>\n There’s no doubt Lawrence could’ve helped the Packers. He would’ve solved their nose tackle problem, especially ahead of a thin draft class at the position. At his best, Lawrence is one of the most disruptive interior linemen in the NFL.<\/p>\n He is only a year removed from registering nine sacks, while no defensive tackle comes close to his tally of pressures<\/a> over the past four seasons.<\/p>\n Any team that traded for Lawrence would have to bank on him regaining his best production. He recorded only half a sack last year. And entering his age-29 season, there’s the risk that Lawrence’s best production is behind him.<\/p>\n Still, he is undoubtedly an excellent player and would’ve given the Packers a significant upgrade up front.<\/p>\n But the 10th overall pick? The Packers couldn’t compete with that. They don’t even own a pick in the first round, let alone a top-10 selection. Any realistic hope for Green Bay rested on no team being willing to part ways with a Day 1 pick. It would’ve required some sort of package, likely starting with the Packers’ top choice at No. 52 overall.<\/p>\n Green Bay doesn’t own a first-round pick in the next two drafts, and its 2028 first-round choice is frozen due to the Micah Parsons trade. The Packers and Dallas Cowboys quietly included a “poison pill” clause<\/a> \u2013 if Green Bay trades Parsons to an NFC East team before 2027, it must send its 2028 first-round choice to Dallas. The same rule applies to the Cowboys with Kenny Clark and NFC North teams.<\/p>\n For that reason, both teams’ 2028 first-round choice remains untouchable in trades until that stipulation is over.<\/p>\n The Bengals were willing to part ways with a premium draft pick to land Lawrence. The Packers had no shot at competing with that.<\/p>\n And even if they could, that’s not a price worth paying. Packers fans’ dreams of landing Lawrence are over, but for a price that absurdly high, it’s actually comforting knowing they never had a realistic chance. It’s far better than narrowly missing out.<\/p>\n
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