Dan Patrick says Joe Burrow forced Bengals’ hand with Dexter Lawrence
“I was told Joe Burrow is the one calling the shots in Cincinnati,” Patrick said. “…From what I’m told, Joe Burrow said to management, ‘you gotta do something defensively or I’m out of here.’ I was told this morning by a source, who said that Joe has given them an ultimatum.”
Quick Hits | Bengals Enjoying Aftershocks Of Dexquake: ‘We Have A Very Serious Team … That Was An Ol’ Jolt’ The Joe Burrows, Ja’Marr Chases and Tee Higgins
of the world don’t figure to show until closer to the voluntary field work in mid-May. But there were enough Bengals around to give the organization a thumbs-up for the defensive overhaul that not only netted the three-time Pro Bowler Lawrence, but other starters and regulars such as another D-Tackle with Pro Bowl skins, Jonathan Allen, as well as the best free-agent safety on the market Bryan Cook and Super Bowl pass rusher Boye Mafe.
Bengals’ Dexter Lawrence trade even has rival GMs praising Cincy
“The Bengals, as they discussed the deal, looked at what they’d get with the 10th pick, likely someone like Ohio State S Caleb Downs or LSU CB Mansoor Delane if they were fortunate enough to have one of those two fall to them. And they determined what the likelihood was they’d be picking someone that they had a mid-to-late first-round grade on at No. 10, based on the makeup of the draft class. It’s a sentiment I’ve heard from other teams, too, in the aftermath of the deal. “There’s nobody of his talent in this year’s draft,” said one rival GM. “I would take him over every defensive player in this draft.” Which, ultimately, explains why, by the end of that week, they’d wind up offering that pick clean to the Giants for Lawrence.”
Andrew Whitworth slams Trey Hendrickson on ‘Pat McAfee Show’
“Here’s the reality to Trey Hendrickson,” Whitworth told McAfee. “He’s a helluva player. But here’s the truth. He is ranked at the top of the group when it comes to sacks and pressures of the quarterback, no doubt. But let’s go look where he’s ranked in the run game in all those years as well. And it ain’t up at the top.”
Final Bengals 7-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Dexter Lawrence trade sets up critical stretch of picks to hit following the first round
Cincinnati trading the No. 10 pick for nose tackle Dexter Lawrence is the kind of move a reasonable person would’ve never expected, but it is now the reality in which 31 other teams must work around. The New York Giants are slated to pick twice in the first 10 selections, and the Bengals will first be on the clock with their second-round pick.
Cincinnati Bengals mock draft: How Dexter Lawrence trade alters approach
Sadly, the original final mock draft will never see the light of day, deleted and replaced with a story on the Bengals trading the No. 10 pick for Dexter Lawrence. A moment of silence, please, for all the insightful analysis on Mansoor Delane’s fit in the secondary and why the concerning Jermod McCoy knee injury changed the dynamics of Cincinnati’s top 10.
