The New York Giants may need to get ready for a Dexter Lawrence trade, as the former All-Pro defensive tackle officially requested a move away from John Harbaugh after a few seasons of being a tad underpaid on one of the worst teams in the league.
Lawrence may become the second All-Pro defensive tackle from New York in the last few months to get traded, as the New York Jets had previously parted ways with Quinnen Williams in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 first-round pick.
That Williams haul may have been considered an overpay by some, but the Giants might be able to use this move to their advantage by setting a starting point for negotiations. If teams want to land Lawrence in a trade, they'll need to give up a first-round pick and something extra for this front office to even consider it.
Even if the Giants get knocked down from that original asking price, the Williams trade has set the market for what an elite defensive tackle with upside as a pass rusher is going to cost in any sort of trade.
Giants must aim for Jets' Quinnen Williams package in Dexter Lawrence trade talks
There are two main obstacles preventing this trade from happening. On top of the fact that Williams had 2.5 years left on his contract when he was traded and was not currently angling for a new contract, Lawrence' trade request compared to Williams' silence makes it tough for the Giants to negotiate with leverage.
Lawrence is also coming off a season where he didn't record a full sack, which puts some holes in his previously ironclad style of play that involved pushing the pocket. Anyone acquiring him is taking a risk by trying to assume that he is going to get back on track.
The 2026 NFL Draft class is not particularly deep as far as defensive tackles are concerned, and the free agent market is even thinner. If teams think that Lawrence is that type of All-Pro player he was in the past, they may eventually get desperate and give in to the Giants' Williams-esque demands.
Lawrence may just be pitching a fit to get a new contract, but if things continue to deteriorate, fans need to prepare for a future where someone who was on track for a Ring of Honor induction is playing elsewhere in 2026 and beyond.