The New York Giants traded Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday in exchange for the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. They turned a disgruntled player, who was unhappy with his contract situation, into one of the most valuable trade returns in recent franchise history.
The Bengals, eager to upgrade their defensive interior for Joe Burrow, signed Lawrence to a one-year, $28 million extension through the 2028 season, bringing his total commitment to three years and $70 million.
How Giants Won the Dexter Lawrence Trade
Lawrence had requested a trade earlier in the month after extension talks collapsed with the Giants. He is entering his age-29 season and coming off a 2025 campaign in which he recorded just 31 tackles and 0.5 sacks across 17 games. New York reportedly offered Lawrence a comparable extension, but the seven-year veteran had decided he wanted a fresh start.
In a video on PFSN’s Football Debate Club, PFSN Analyst Alex Kennedy argued that New York clearly won the trade.
“The New York Giants are the big winners of the Dexter Lawrence trade,” Kennedy said. “Usually, when a player demands a trade, it makes it a lot harder for the team to get back a significant return because it hurts your leverage. Teams around the league know you’re trying to trade him, but in this situation, the Giants actually exceeded all expectations when it comes to their return for Lawrence.”
The New York Giants are the big winners of the Dexter Lawrence trade.
PFSN’s Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) explains why: pic.twitter.com/z3WgGaEg0A
— Football Debate Club (@FDC365) April 20, 2026
“Rival NFL teams were expecting the Giants to get back a late first-round pick for Lawrence… Instead, they get back the number 10 overall pick in this year’s draft,” Kennedy continued. “That is a huge win for the Giants. And look, this is a team that has a lot of needs, they’re not one piece away.”
“We’re talking about a team that needs wide receiver help, guard help, tackle, linebacker, and cornerback,” Kennedy added. “Now, to add another top 10 pick in this year’s draft, it allows them to go add another cost-controlled cornerstone. I really like this trade for the Giants. They maximize their value. I’m really impressed by what they were able to get back.”
The Giants now hold the fifth and the 10th overall pick in this year’s draft, and the possibilities are tantalizing. The Giants could potentially use the No. 5 pick on Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles, who could become the leader of their defense for years to come under head coach John Harbaugh.
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Similarly, the 10th overall pick can either be used on wide receiver Jordyn Tyson or safety Caleb Downs. Both players have the potential to become superstars and will fit perfectly on the Giants.
Giants general manager Joe Schoen was reportedly in Arizona recently to watch Tyson work out, and the pairing of Tyson with Malik Nabers would give second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart two dynamic targets to grow with. According to PFSN’s CFB WR Impact Metric, Tyson had an impact score of 81.2, ranking 23rd in college football at his position last year.
Either way, two cost-controlled cornerstones on rookie deals will provide more cumulative value over the next four to five years than one aging interior lineman on a premium contract would have.
Having two selections inside the top 10 gives Harbaugh the rare opportunity to stamp his vision on the roster quite early in his tenure. If New York leaves the draft on Thursday with Styles and Downs, the foundation is set for Harbaugh to build the kind of physical, disciplined defense that defined his tenure in Baltimore.
