The New York Giants have been trying to find someone willing to take star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence off their hands as he seeks a new contract, and one team that makes a ton of sense due to a lack of star power at that position is the contending Houston Texans.
The Texans could have taken an already elite defense to the next level, but their latest move related to ascending young pass rusher Will Anderson is going to be so prohibitive for them financially that a Lawrence trade is no longer in the cards for Nick Caserio.
The Texans agreed to a three-year, $150 million contract with $134 million guaranteed that makes Anderson the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league. This news is a great windfall for Texans fans, but the Giants may be upset that they won't engage with them any further.
Lawrence's talent, paired with a desire to maximize their championship window before the CJ Stroud extension starts to eat into their financial flexibility, would have made him a perfect trade candidate, but Houston's defensive line isn't big enough for both of them.
Giants won't trade Dexter Lawrence to Texans after Will Anderson extension
The Texans not only extended Nico Collins in addition to Anderson, but they are gearing up to hand a contract that will keep him locked in. With Danielle Hunter playing on a series of lucrative short-term deals, Houston may not have the room to pay Lawrence the contract he is seeking.
Not only did the Texans have the need for a defensive tackle like Lawrence, but their 2025 trade with the Giants that helped them land Jaxson Dart has left them with three top-50 picks. They could have given the Giants the same stuff compensation they are seeking in any hypothetical Lawrence trade.
The Giants will need to move on to a team like the Los Angeles Chargers or Chicago Bears. Both of them have holes at defensive tackle that need to be taken into account, and they could trade a first-round pick to acquire him if they are not sold on any of the defensive tackles in this NFL Draft class.
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