The New York Giants don't actually have to move Dexter Lawrence.
New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence has requested a trade due to his frustration over a lack of a new deal, and if we're being honest, this has been building for quite some time.
Lawrence has been seeking a fresh contract since last year due to the fact that he now no longer has any guaranteed money on the four-year, $90 million extension he signed with the Giants in May 2023.
There were also rumblings that Lawrence was growing increasingly agitated inside the building this past year as New York limped to a 4-13 season.
It didn't help matters that Lawrence just had the worst showing of his NFL career, managing 31 tackles, a half of a sack and just eight quarterback hits.
The 28-year-old seemed to be playing through injury in 2025, with many speculating that the dislocated elbow Lawrence suffered during the second half of 2024 was still bothering him. That would explain his stark dropoff in production.
But do the Giants actually have to trade Lawrence?
It's clear that the Clemson product just wants security. He wants some guaranteed dollars to guard against injury or decline (which may have already started this past season), and that is entirely understandable.
New York has all offseason to work something out with Lawrence, and if John Harbaugh heavily values him, the two sides should come to some sort of agreement.
But let's say contract talks between Lawrence and the Giants continue to stall. Then what?
New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.Well, the instant reaction would be to assume that Lawrence has all the leverage in the world and that New York would have no choice but to cave to his demands, but that isn't actually true.
Lawrence is under contract through 2027, even if none of the cash remaining on his deal is guaranteed. He is also coming off of a mysteriously unproductive season. Can he legitimately force the Giants' hand here?
Let's be honest: Lawrence isn't going to sit out next season. It's not like he had an All-Pro campaign in 2025. His impact was barely even felt. At least for his standards.
Deciding to sit in 2026 would essentially be career suicide for the former first-round pick, and deep down, he knows that.
This is clearly an attempt at a cash grab, and again, everyone should understand it. When he is right, Lawrence is a game wrecker. Whether or not he'll ever truly be "right" again is debatable, but we know what he can do when he is at the top of his game.
Still, New York is not necessarily under the gun. Lawrence can't just go sign with another team if the Giants don't oblige his request. He can't even hit the free-agent market next year.
You know what the Giants can do? They can shop around and see what other teams would be willing to offer for the three-time Pro Bowler. If they can find a deal they really like, they can pull the trigger before the NFL Draft. If not? Then they can keep Lawrence and try to mend fences throughout the offseason.
Chances are, Big Blue isn't going to net a first-round pick for Lawrence. Not after what we just saw from him in 2025. But if New York can somehow convince a team to part with a Day 1 pick in exchange for the Wake Forest, N.C. native? Then perhaps the Giants should get something done.
Until then, though, Dexter Lawrence will be a New York Giant until further notice.
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