Suddenly, an excellent option may be on the market.
For this entire offseason, I have talked about the defensive tackles being a forgotten issue on the New Orleans Saints roster. The reason is that last season it was still a struggling unit, and it has been for years. Bryan Bresee was better overall, but still not up to the expectations given to him when selected in the first round. Davon Godchaux was fine, Nathan Shepherd was decent depth, Vernon Broughton was out for the entire year, and the rest of the depth was an issue. There is still no great starter in this group, but there could be if the Saints focus on upgrading that position.
Bringing up Godchaux again, he may be the most important DT on the roster. His role as the nose tackle in Brandon Staley's defense is vital for the scheme to really come together. To defend Godchaux a bit for his performances last season: he was being played out of position because the Saints didn't have the right pieces. But, when he was played correctly, it was still clear that an upgrade could be made. That is where Dexter Lawrence comes into play.
Recently, it was announced that Lawrence requested a trade from the New York Giants, and this is massive news for the entire NFL. Lawrence would walk into nearly any defensive line in the league and become the best player. He is an excellent run defender and pass rusher. At 28-years old, Lawrence has dealt with some injuries, which are going to be a worry, but he is an absolute game changer. Over time, Lawrence has become one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL, and he is doing that at nose tackle.
Price-wise, it has been rumored that a deal could be done with a late-1st or early-2nd-round pick. If that is the case, the Saints can offer #42 in this year's draft for the star DT.
If that deal does happen, Lawrence would replace Godchaux at nose tackle, become the best run defender on the roster, and upgrade the Saints' pass rush. If the price is closer to a 1st rounder, the Saints should not consider that. Yes, giving that second round is a bit expensive, but the Saints would probably have to extend Lawrence as well (which they can easily do). Combining that with Lawrence turning 29 this season, these two factors may drag the trade price down a bit.