NFL news: Cincinnati Bengals sign Dexter Lawrence from New York Giants in blockbuster $28m trade
Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence has finally gotten his wish to leave the New York Giants and will play for the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2026 season.
After spending his entire NFL career so far in New York, Lawrence requested a trade at the start of April – just over two weeks later, his wish has been granted.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer and NFL fan Luca Salmasi takes a closer look at the deal and what it means for both teams.
Contract extension fallout
Before Lawrence’s departure, things with the Giants had already begun to turn sour.
With a 7-27 record over two seasons and the likes of Leonard Williams and Saquon Barkley leaving to win Super Bowls, there wasn’t a lot keeping Lawrence in New York.
The root of the issue, however, stems from the contract extension he signed in 2024 – a $90 million deal over four years that carried no remaining guaranteed money.
Last year, the Giants attempted to sweeten the deal by adding a potential $3m in incentives to the $17m he was owed, but in contrast to this off-season, they were reluctant to alter his $20m salary.
Throughout the 2025 season, the issue sat unresolved and ultimately it lead to the situation being blown wide open.
In addition to this, the Giants were bad last term, with Lawrence also having one of his worst campaigns so far, being held to a career-low 31 tackles and half a sack across 17 starts.
Those numbers reflect both his production and a team that has in recent years offered him little support.
Giants’ selection setback
Lawrence’s departure from the Giants isn’t the start to the John Harbaugh era that the franchise would have wanted.
After signing a potential franchise quarterback in Jaxon Dart and a playmaker in Malik Nabers at wide receiver, the Giants had an opportunity to take advantage of Dart’s cheap rookie contract by adding another weapon or bolstering their offensive line.
Now there is a massive hole at defensive tackle, which was already in need of some upgrades regardless of whether Lawrence left or not.
That gap will most likely have to be patched up at this week's NFL Draft, with the Giants having the 10th pick in addition to their original fifth first-round pick.
Lawrence, though, is the kind of player that franchises don’t trade – rather, teams do everything in their power to keep such players happy.
As a four-time Pro Bowler and consistent problem against the run, you cannot simply replace that kind of interior pressure, especially in a draft class where the Giants have to be precise about who they pick in Pittsburgh.
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Cincinnati’s winning move
This trade marks a change in how the Bengals usually operate as a risk-averse franchise.
With that said, taking a chance on Lawrence and giving up the 10th pick in the draft is undoubtedly a smart move that pushes the franchise in the right direction.
Alongside the 2025 extensions for Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, the decision proves that Cincinnati are serious about improving their quality and becoming a serious contender.
A defensive force
Lawrence has spent seven seasons in the NFL since being drafted and made three straight Pro Bowls from 2022 to 2024.
While he had a poor 2025, dropping from a career-high nine sacks the season before to half a sack, Lawrence remains a top enforcer whose impact goes far beyond in-game stats.
The 28-year-old destroys blockers, having seen a 53.2 per cent increase in double-team blocks since 2021 – the highest in the NFL during that time frame.
That percentage accounts for 1,103 double teams on his pass rushes over the past five seasons, making him the only player to put up quadruple digits.
And considering that his new team-mate, defensive end BJ Hill, ranks third with 980 double teams, a nightmare could be brewing for opposing offences.
