The Cincinnati Bengals did pay a hefty cost to trade for Dexter Lawrence. But is that enough to tank the Bengals\u2019 entire offseason grade? Absolutely not.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t![\"Cincinnati](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/USATSI_29159288-1-scaled.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) unwraps his fingers during practice on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Kettering Health Practice Fields in downtown Cincinnati.
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u00a9 Frank Bowen IV\/The Enquirer \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Trading for nose tackle Dexter Lawrence in exchange for the No. 10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft was the biggest move made by the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason. ESPN\u2019s Seth Walder agrees in his assessment of Cincinnati\u2019s offseason<\/a>, yet graded the club\u2019s offseason a C, ranking it 27th among all 32 teams.<\/p>\n Walder tabbed the Lawrence trade as the move he disliked the most for the Bengals. He cited the cost of the No. 10 pick being too high for Lawrence following a relatively down year in terms of production.<\/p>\n The Bengals made a high-profile trade,\u00a0sending the No. 10 pick\u00a0to the Giants in exchange for Lawrence. The move was both uncharacteristic and unwise. Yes, Cincinnati needs to invest resources into its defense. But this was not the way to do it. Lawrence is a good player who has been elite in the past. But he is coming off a down season \u2014 just an 8.4% pass rush win rate and 0.5 sacks. There\u2019s also a big difference between sending the No. 10 pick and, say, a late first-rounder. And that\u2019s why this was too pricey a trade.<\/p>\n Seth walder<\/p>\n ESPN analytics <\/p>\n The problem with this assessment is it ignores the context of what made the trade possible, and the impact Lawrence is set to make as a member of Cincinnati\u2019s new-look defense.<\/p>\n The context behind the Dexter Lawrence trade cost<\/p>\n The Bengals did pay a hefty cost for Lawrence. A top-10 pick is a top-10 pick at the end of the day. Before the trade materialized, Lawrence\u2019s value appeared to sit around a late first-round pick. The Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Chargers were reportedly in consideration as owners of picks in the early 20s. Cincinnati didn\u2019t have a late first-rounder to offer as its next selection sat at No. 41, which was eventually used to take Cassius Howell.<\/p>\n Cincinnati has traditionally included pick-swaps in its trades. A swap involving the No. 10 pick and the Giants\u2019 No. 37 pick in the second round could\u2019ve brought the return value for Lawrence closer to that late first-round value.<\/p>\n We also have zero idea if that was ever something New York would\u2019ve considered. The Bengals had to come up with first-round value, and their own first-rounder was their best bet. An alternative may not have existed.<\/p>\n Walder\u2019s analysis treats the No. 10 overall pick in a vacuum, and also ignores how much the three-time Pro Bowler can elevate those around him.<\/p>\n Lawrence can have a DJ Reader impact for the Bengals\u2019 defense<\/p>\n There\u2019s a reason the Bengals\u2019 first major free agent signing in franchise history was DJ Reader<\/a> back in 2020. Cincinnati signed him to a four-year, $53 million deal, and it surprised a lot of people because Reader was one of the best free agents in that class. He also filled an immense need at nose tackle, and his impact on the defense when healthy was substantial.<\/p>\n Reader was a great player who was arguably the engine of Lou Anarumo\u2019s defense. He commanded double teams, beat them with ease in the run game, and cleared space for linebackers Germaine Pratt and Logan Wilson behind him.<\/p>\n Lawrence, at his peak, even better than Reader. At 340 pounds, he can eat up space like few other noses can. The biggest difference is how effective he is rushing the passer. He has a case for being the best overall interior pass rusher in football because he doesn\u2019t just beat individual blockers. He beats double teams at a rate that separates him from everyone else at the position. At 6-foot-4 and 340-350 pounds, he moves like a player 50 pounds lighter. He generates push in the pocket with natural power regardless of hand placement.<\/p>\n Lawrence\u2019s sack production did dip last season, and while warrants some concern, he still won at a relatively high rate compared to other defensive tackles. When he\u2019s healthy and playing close to his peak ability, everybody else on the defensive line is going to eat.<\/p>\n The trade should\u2019ve only boosted the grade<\/p>\n I was underwhelmed by the Bengals\u2019 offseason leading up to the Lawrence trade. Jonathan Allen, Bryan Cook<\/a>, and Boye Mafe were quality additions, but the defense still needed something I didn\u2019t think they were capable of finding. Lawrence became that missing piece.<\/p>\n Was I expecting Lawrence to be traded for a top-10 pick? No. If you look at him strictly as an individual coming off a down year by his standards, you could argue the price was steep. But is that enough to tank the Bengals\u2019 entire offseason grade to a C? Absolutely not.<\/p>\n The Lawrence trade only elevated what the Bengals did this offseason. In a world where it didn\u2019t happen, I struggle to imagine if their defense will be up to the task of making the improvements needed to return to postseason action.<\/p>\n \t\t\t Cincinnati Bengals News<\/p>\n![\"Cincinnati](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/USATSI_29208199-200x200.jpg\")
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