Anonymous executive delivers fresh perspective on what makes the Dexter Lawrence trade a huge win for the Bengals
Trading for nose tackle Dexter Lawrence was a really good deal for the Cincinnati Bengals, especially compared to the likely alternative.
Trading for nose tackle Dexter Lawrence was just the first step for the Cincinnati Bengals. As the NFL world saw with Maxx Crosby, nothing becomes official until the trade is processed, and the papers are signed.
Cincinnati needed to sign Lawrence to a new deal upon arriving to his new team. The club was able to hammer home a one-year, $28 million extension the day after the blockbuster trade was announced. The deal puts Lawrence under contract for the next three years at a total of $70 million.
It’s a really good deal when looking at the totality of it. There’s an argument for it being much better than what could’ve happened in an alternative universe.
Bengals receive praise for paying Dexter Lawrence over Trey Hendrickson
There’s a world in which the Bengals pay Trey Hendrickson to keep him on the roster. The world that we live in saw Hendrickson leave to sign a four-year, $112 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens.
In terms of total money, Average Annual Value (AAV), and guaranteed money, no matter how you slice, Cincinnati is getting Lawrence on a better deal. That’s why the trade and contract was one anonymous AFC executive’s favorite offseason move.
Cincinnati wasn’t getting close to that kind of deal with Trey Hendrickson [now with the Ravens], and here they get a premier defensive tackle, which you can build a defense around.
Anonymous afc executive
Via ESPN's Jeremy Fowler
Lawrence originally signed a four-year, $90 million extension with the New York Giants in 2023. The Bengals only had to pay him $28 million in new money with one year added on to his existing deal. His new AAV of $23.33 million is slightly larger than the $22.5 million the Giants signed on for three years ago.
But it’s not the $28 million AAV Hendrickson is now earning from the Ravens. Baltimore also guaranteed Hendrickson $60 million, effectively locking them in for the next two years during his age 32 and 33 seasons. Lawrence, who turns 29 this year, signed for $10 million guaranteed.
Cincinnati didn’t begin the offseason thinking Lawrence was on the table. The trade became a serious talking point weeks after Hendrickson already left for his new club. The result was a cheaper contract spent on a younger player of arguably greater value.
The Bengals will take that 10 times out of 10.