Grading the Dexter Lawrence trade: New York Giants make blockbuster move that shakes up the 2026 NFL Draft in a major way
The New York Giants have traded defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals in a major blockbuster deal. But how do the Giants grade out for the return they got for the All-Pro?
The writing has been on the wall for weeks now, but the New York Giants have officially traded star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. After the Maxx Crosby fiasco, it feels important to say the only thing standing in the way of Lawrence heading to the Cincinnati Bengals is a physical.
Both sides ended up with an elite asset in return. So, let’s grade how the Giants did in a trade that shipped the All-Pro defensive tackle to the AFC North.
Giants did better than anyone expected in trade of Dexter Lawrence
In return for trading Lawrence, the Giants are getting the tenth pick in the draft. The team now owns two top-ten picks, the fifth and the tenth. They are in a fantastic position to land elite talent to begin this new era under head coach John Harbaugh.
Talks this week began to pour cold water on the Giants’ coming-out positive in a Lawrence trade. Many believed a late first was the best-case scenario for a return. Well, they certainly surpassed those expectations, netting a top ten pick.
Grade: A
To me, it’s hard to look like a winner when you move on from a star player like Lawrence. You have to give credit to the Giants, though, because landing pick ten is a massive win in my eyes.
The only reason I don’t view this as an A+ is that they are still losing a proven All-Pro. While the tenth pick is an incredible value, they are still banking on that pick being a hit. And the odds of that player surpassing the ability Lawrence has shown are slim.
The reality of the situation, though, is that Lawrence was unhappy and wanted out of New York. So the Giants had to find a way to come out with the best possible trade package. That’s exactly what they did, so while they will miss Lawrence, I think the Giants have to feel very good about pulling this move off.
