It’s not breaking news to New York Giants fans, but the rest of the league is starting to catch on: Dexter Lawrence is one of the best players from the 2019 NFL Draft. FOX Sports recently listed the top 10 players from the class, and Lawrence came in at No. 5, behind defensive icons like Nick Bosa and Maxx Crosby.
It’s well-earned recognition for a player who’s quietly become one of the most dominant interior defensive linemen in football. He may not rack up highlight-reel sacks the way edge rushers do, but the tape and the advanced metrics say it all. The G-Men built their defense around Lawrence for a reason, and now the results are starting to match the reputation.
With a revamped front that includes Kayvon Thibodeaux, Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, Darius Alexander, and Chauncey Golston, Lawrence remains the centerpiece. And FOX Sports naming him a top-five player from 2019 just added to the proof.
Dexter Lawrence cements himself among 2019 NFL Draft’s elite
FOX Sports made a point to highlight that Lawrence isn’t a stat-padder, but he’s a problem for everyone in his path. His nine sacks in 12 games last season were a career-high, but that’s just the surface. He was fourth among defensive linemen in total pressures and third in pass-rush win rate among interior defenders.
"He was fourth in pressures among defensive linemen (65) in 2023, finishing third in pass rush win rate (19%) for defensive tackles that year as well," Fox Sports wrote."As a result of his strong play, Lawrence has been named a Pro Bowler in each of the last three seasons."
The top of the 2019 rankings includes some of the league’s most dominant defenders. Bosa has five Pro Bowls, a Defensive Rookie of the Year award, and a Defensive Player of the Year honor. Crosby has earned four straight Pro Bowl selections and one of the richest contracts in league history.
But few have a bigger impact on their team’s identity than Lawrence. He drives everything New York wants to do defensively—collapsing pockets, eating double-teams, and freeing up edge rushers like Burns, Thibodeaux, and now Carter. He’s not just a piece of the front. He’s the foundation, as evidenced by their free-agency strategy and draft. They might have finally found him a running mate inside with Alexander.
It also doesn’t hurt that FOX Sports dropped Burns in as an honorable mention. That’s two Giants defensive linemen from the same draft class, on the same team, headlining the front of a defense that might finally start wreaking havoc again. Big Blue has plenty to prove this season. Lawrence’s resume speaks for itself. He belongs in the conversation with the best from 2019, and the best at his position today.