The Cincinnati Bengals made one of the biggest moves of the offseason by trading the 10th overall pick to the New York Giants for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.
The Bengals needed this move, as they had to shake up their defense. They had one of the worst units in the NFL last season, and adding a key cog in the middle should work wonders.
Lawrence has always been known as a player with a boisterous personality, and that was something Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase did not expect when they first met him.
Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase’s First Impression of Dexter Lawrence
Burrow joined Chase’s podcast “Chasing No.1” to discuss all things Bengals as they get set to begin the 2026 season in just over a week.
One of the topics of discussion was offseason additions, and Burrow mentioned, “Yeah, I was hanging out with Dex a lot this offseason.” When asked what his first impressions of him were, Burrow continued, “Um, quiet, soft-spoken guy. But then, great words. You know, the more I’ve been around him, you know, the more energy he has.”
Chase felt a similar way when he first met Lawrence, saying, “My first time meeting him, it was like I thought I was talking to a big baby. He was very soft-spoken, and I was like, ‘What’s up?’ And then we got on the field, and I heard a little more bass in his voice. I was like, oh wow.”
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While Lawrence may be playful all the time, he has been all business on the field. Ever since he was drafted into the NFL, he has been an impact player. He has been named to three Pro Bowl teams and two All-Pro teams during his career.
After acquiring Lawrence, the Bengals signed him to a one-year, $28 million extension. He is one of the highest-paid defensive tackles in football and expects to play as such.
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Last season, the Bengals ranked last in rushing yards allowed per game with 147.1. Adding Lawrence should help shore up their run defense and raise their floor as a unit.
The Bengals had a 62.6 Run Defense PFN Impact Rating, which was second-worst in the NFL last season. While Lawrence may not light up the box score with sacks, he will certainly improve this porous run defense.
The Bengals have struggled in recent seasons because of injury issues, most notably to Burrow. But if this team stays healthy, they have a good shot at competing in the AFC North and even making a deep playoff run.
