If the New York Giants end up having to trade defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, they want “a first-round pick and possibly more,” according to a report from NFL insider Ari Meirov.
The Giants “won’t entertain any deal” that doesn’t include that much, per Meirov.
The possibility of the Giants trading Lawrence rose on Tuesday night with the news that contract talks between Lawrence and the Giants had reached “an impasse.”
Lawrence, 28, has two years remaining on a four-year, $90 million contract extension
he signed in 2024. When Lawrence signed that deal, he was the third-highest paid defensive tackle in football. Now, his average annual value per year is tied for 11th with Daron Payne of the Washington Commanders. Lawrence also has no guaranteed salary left on his deal.
GM Joe Schoen seemed to indicate on Tuesday that the Giants would like Lawrence to honor his contract. He said the team has had “good conversations” with Lawrence’s representatives, but “he’s under contract for two more years.”
That might be what the Giants want, but it doesn’t seem realistic at this point.
There is an obvious sweet spot for a deal to be made between the Giants and Lawrence. Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs, a three-time First-Team All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler, is the league’s highest-paid defensive tackle with an average annual value of $31.75 million per year. Jordan Davis of the Philadelphia Eagles and Milton Williams of the New England Patriots are next at $26 million per year.
Neither Davis nor Williams is nearly as accomplished as Lawrence. Lawrence is not as accomplished as Jones. So, an extension with a value between $27-30 million annually, perhaps with the remaining years on his contract sweetened, seems like the right range.
Whether that is what Lawrence is asking for, or the Giants are willing to pay that much, are unknown.
Back to trade value.
As Meirov pointed out, the Dallas Cowboys gave the New York Jets a 2027 first-round pick and 2026 second-round pick in exchange for defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, a one-time All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler who is also 28. It isn’t hard to look at that deal and believe it set the market for the kind of return the Giants should expect.
