The Dexter Lawrence impasse has come to an end…with a trade that will make Big Blue’s Thursday quite an eventful one.
Per multiple reports, the Giants are trading Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals for the No. 10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, straight up, giving Big Blue the Nos. 5 and 10 picks in the first round on Thursday.
The deal is contingent on Lawrence passing a physical and agreeing to a new deal with the Bengals, but if and when it passes, this will now be the second time in five years the Giants have had multiple Top 10 picks in the draft.
It also brings to an end a saga that began when Lawrence, who is under contract for two more years but has no guaranteed money left on his deal, reached an impasse with the Giants on a new deal and requested a trade – with that situation reportedly coming to critical mass less than 48 hours before the trade was made.
BREAKING: @ShaunMorash reacts to the report that the Giants are trading Dexter Lawrence to Cincinnati for a package including the No. 10 overall pick! pic.twitter.com/tjU0hKZ9sl
— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) April 19, 2026
Lawrence, 28, was a three-time Pro Bowler from 2022-24, but had just 33 tackles and half a sack last year.
He now trades a defense full of strong pass rushers in New York for one in Cincinnati that lost Trey Hendrickson to Baltimore but has added ex-Seahawks EDGE Boye Mafe and former Vikings and Commanders DT Jonathan Allen so far this offseason.
Cincinnati has committed over $125 million over the next three years to those two and safety Bryan Cook, so they’re clearly willing to spend money and give up their top draft capital for another defensive asset in Lawrence.
