New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence “does indeed want out of New York,” according to reporting from CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones.
Lawrence, who has requested a trade and is not attending voluntary offseason workouts, has been said to want an contract extension and a raise from his current four-year, $90 million deal, which carries an average annual value of $22.5 million.
Here is what Jones wrote about the Lawrence situation:
Dexter Lawrence’s trade request was not just an attempt
for more money from the team. Two sources tell me he does indeed want out of New York. But the Giants do not necessarily agree, and they don’t have to make a deal by next week.
Here’s what I’ve gathered: The Giants do not seem too keen on paying Lawrence high-market price coming off his worst statistical season of his career, but they aren’t going to give him away. If they can get a great offer for him — something that includes at least a first-round pick — I think they will deal him.
The acquiring team will likely have to pay Lawrence a salary in the high-20s upon trading for him. That would be OK for a contending team needing an interior defensive lineman and realizing this is not the year to hope you’ll get one in the draft.
Quinnen Williams went for a first and second back at the trade deadline, and that generally seems like a fair price for Lawrence. What will be interesting is if the Giants take a 2026 second rounder and demand a 2027 first. If that’s the case, and if the Giants do deal Lawrence, they wouldn’t have to do the transaction until Friday.
If we get through Friday night with no deal, I would not expect one any time soon. Both sides can pick up where they left off on talks and try to find a middle ground as the spring continues.
By Friday, Jones was referring to the second night of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Why would the Giants, or any team, want to delay getting a first-round pick?
Because the 2027 Draft is expected to be quarterback rich at the top and perhaps deeper overall than this year’s draft. So, the chance of adding impact talent might be greater a year from now.
Why would Lawrence really want out of New York?
That is certainly possible. Lawrence has been a Giant since 2019. He has been through four head coaches — Pat Shurmur, Joe Judge, Brian Daboll, and interim coach Mike Kafka. The Giants have one winning season and a single playoff victory in Lawrence’s time in New York.
John Harbaugh is the most accomplished coach the Giants have brought in during Lawrence’s time. Still, this is another new beginning, and perhaps Lawrence isn’t looking forward to that. The position coach Lawrence credits with taking his game to an All-Pro level, Andre Patterson, was not retained.
Also, Lawrence has watched players like Leonard Williams, Julian Love, and Saquon Barkley leave the Giants and win Super Bowls elsewhere.
It was clear interacting with him a year ago that Lawrence was frustrated. Maybe he simply feels like he needs to see what the NFL looks like from a different vantage point.
