NY Giants’ Dexter Lawrence a ‘freak of nature,’ Blake Martinez says

Dexter Lawrence has the talent and potential to be a centerpiece of the NY Giants’ defense

The defensive line was one of the more talented and deepest positions on the NY Giants’ roster last season, and figures to once again be the case in 2021, but it is the anchor in the middle that might have the highest upside potential; Dexter Lawrence.

Standing 6-foot-4 and 342 pounds, conventional wisdom would suggest Lawrence is a prototypical nose tackle, whose best trait is simply plugging up space along the middle of the defensive line and stuffing the run.

That would be short-changing Lawrence’s impact through his first two NFL seasons.

Last year, Lawrence produced four sacks, and 29 total pressures, in addition to making 33 run-stops en route to 51 total tackles.

"“Dexter Lawrence is another freak of nature,” NY Giants inside linebacker Blake Martinez told the New York Post. “He basically is just a little taller, so he kind of looks a little more thinned out. We call him the ‘Juggernaut.’ As in the Marvel Comics character: He pretty much runs through anything and nothing can stop that dude.”"

Dexter Lawrence expectations high for NY Giants’ lineman in 2021

Turning 24 this season, Lawrence has the athletic gifts of a 280-pound defensive end in a defensive tackle’s body; strength, explosiveness, and agility, which gives him a real chance to break out in 2021.

Especially following the NY Giants’ investment in the secondary this offseason, signing cornerback Adoree’ Jackson to pair opposite James Bradberry on the perimeter, and that group improving dramatically last season, the extra time to get after the quarterback up front could help Lawrence boost his pass-rush production this season.

Pro Football Focus lists Lawrence as the NFL’s No. 17 ranked interior defender, with an overall grade of 79.7 during the 2020 campaign. Following Dalvin Tomlinson’s departure via free agency, Lawrence might take his game to an even higher level this upcoming season.

Matt Lombardo is FanSided’s National NFL Insider and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday. Email Matt: Matt.Lombardo@FanSided.com, Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL