The Giants and one of their best players from the past half decade are reportedly headed towards a divorce.
According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, Dexter Lawrence has requested a trade and will not report to the team's offseason workout program that begins on Tuesday. Per Schefter, there has been no progress between Lawrence and the Giants towards a new contract, as efforts to find common ground on a deal have been futile over the past two offseasons.
The three-time Pro Bowler signed a four-year, $90 million contract extension in 2023, but other defensive tackles have since signed for considerably more money, leading Lawrence's camp to request a new deal that reflects his value.
Lawrence's value as a Giant is undeniable, as he has been one of the premier defensive lineman in the game over the past five years, but his value moving forward is in question. The 28-year-old took a major step back last season, logging just 0.5 sacks eight QB hits. The year before, he had a career-best nine sacks with 16 QB hits, making him arguably the best interior lineman in football.
Given the strong draft capital the Jets received for Quinnen Williams (a first-round pick and a second-round pick), the Giants could bring back a nice haul for Lawrence despite his down season, given his production before 2025 and the fact that he has yet to turn 29 years old. That will be a job for Joe Schoen and John Harbaugh, as the first real dose of adversity has hit in the start of the Harbaugh era.
The two sides have reportedly made no progress on a new contract.
