The Cincinnati Bengals’ pursuit of defensive upgrades has sparked heated debate across the NFL landscape. At the center of the conversation is the blockbuster trade for star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.
While some view the move as a franchise-altering masterstroke that directly addresses crucial defensive woes, Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe remains unconvinced that Lawrence is the silver bullet Cincinnati needs.
Shannon Sharpe Questions the Bengals’ Trade for Dexter Lawrence
Former Bengals star receiver Chad Johnson recently championed the trade, viewing it as a massive statement from the organization’s front office. On the podcast “Nightcap,” which he co-hosts with Sharpe, Johnson pushed back.
For years, Bengals owner Mike Brown has faced external criticism for a perceived reluctance to spend big money on outside acquisitions. According to Johnson, bringing in a dominant force like Lawrence firmly shatters that narrative.
“They always talk about Mike Brown being cheap. What is Mike Brown doing? He putting his mouth with the money,” Johnson argued passionately. “He’s showing y’all. We have to improve defensively. So, what do we do? We go and get proven players that have done it before.”
Johnson believes Lawrence is an unmatched talent who immediately alters the geometry of the football field. He expressed supreme confidence that Lawrence’s massive presence in the middle of the defensive line would instantly shut down elite AFC North rushers like the Baltimore Ravens’ Derrick Henry. By shutting down the run, Johnson argued, opponents would be forced to test an opportunistic Bengals secondary.
“Let’s see Derrick Henry run the goddamn ball now. Huh? Let’s see him run the goddamn ball now,” Johnson boasted. “Matter of fact, let’s see him throw the ball now. Cuz DJ Turner, they picking everything off like a booger.”
Sharpe, however, was quick to pour cold water on Johnson’s immense optimism. While acknowledging the hype surrounding Lawrence, Sharpe questioned his recent pass-rushing production and his overall standing among the league’s elite interior defensive linemen.
Specifically, Sharpe pushed back on the idea that Lawrence is a top-three defensive tackle in the sport today. After all, Lawrence ranked 38th for 2025 among all defensive tackles in PFSN’s DT Impact metric. To make matters worse, the Bengals had one of the worst defenses in the NFL, ranking 28th overall.
“Based on that 0.5 sacks, he was not the third-best defensive tackle in football,” Sharpe countered. “I’m just saying based on last year.”
Furthermore, Sharpe argued that one interior lineman, even one of Lawrence’s caliber, is not enough to shift the balance of power in a grueling AFC North division, especially when dealing with the two-time MVP.
“Hey, y’all already know Lamar [Jackson] own Cincinnati. LJack own Cincinnati,” Sharpe declared, referencing Jackson’s historical success against the Bengals.
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Sharpe also noted that the division is already flush with elite defensive tackle talent, stating that Lawrence “ain’t better than Cam Heyward for the Pittsburgh Steelers” or Ravens’ star Nnamdi Madubuike.
Ultimately, the debate highlights the complexity of roster building in the modern NFL. While adding a mammoth presence like Lawrence would undoubtedly stiffen Cincinnati’s front seven, Sharpe’s critique serves as a stark reminder that surviving the AFC North requires more than just one splashy offseason headline.
