Dexter Lawrence, Giants Trade Points to Messy Divorce Before Bengals' Payday
Breakups are often messy, and what we're learning about the Dexter Lawrence trade from the New York Giants to the Cincinnati Bengals reveals just how messy things got in East Rutherford, NJ, this offseason.
Lawrence told Bengals radio broadcaster Dan Hoard that his new situation has lit a "fire in me that I've never had before," after the Giants traded Lawrence for the #10 overall pick in this week's NFL Draft over the weekend.
"They wanted me here, and they appreciated the work that I've put in over the last seven seasons," Lawrence said, per the New York Post. "I appreciate that, and I'm going to do everything I can to show them that they didn't waste [a top 10 pick]. I'm excited. I've got a fire in me that I've never had before, so I'm excited. I'm excited to be a Bengal."
That sounds like boilerplate new-player-in-new-situation banter until you see the other Post report saying that Lawrence's agent "forbade" his client from having a conversation with new head coach John Harbaugh.
Then, the agent also didn't want to discuss an extension with GM Joe Schoen, instead opting to negotiate with senior VP of football administration and strategy, Dawn Aponte, and senior personnel director, Chris Mara. Since any contract offer would have to come from the GM anyway, Shoen was kept in the loop by proxy.
That doesn't sound like a healthy platform to negotiate from, and makes it seem like Dexter Lawrence and his agent wanted him away from the Giants at any cost.
It has paid off for them. Lawrence says he's "ready to let my light shine" with his new team after a "long process" to get him to Cincy.
The Bengals gave him the extension he was looking for, adding 1 year and $28 million to the rookie extension he signed with the Giants in 2023, according to Spotrac.
But that's where the situation gets even messier, because Connor Hughes of SNYtv reports that the Giants offered similar money, "however, for them to go there, they wanted more years."
The Giants apparently have had the #10 pick offer on the table for two weeks, and have been working to come to an agreement, but the offer for more years "that was denied, along with all other proposed structures. There was never a counter provided to #NYG," according to Hughes.
Dexter Lawrence outplayed his 2023 contract extension
When Lawrence signed his rookie contract extension in May 2023, the headline number was for four years and $90 million. It made him the third-highest-paid DT in the league, behind Aaron Donald and Jeffery Simmons.
It was a good offseason for top-tier pass rushers as Lawrence's $22.5 million AAV tied him for second with Daron Payne behind Simmons, whose contract gave him $23.5 million. The $60 million in guarantees was tied for second in the league behind Paynes $60.02 million.
"I don't think the amount to me was that important. Just being respected and understanding who I am as a player and what I'm worth," Lawrence said moments after signing the deal, according to ESPN. "I didn't have a set number in mind or anything like that. I knew I just wanted to be respected for my production and my leadership around here."
He went on to earn Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors for the second year in a row in 2023 before doubling his sack total in 2024 to 9.
The $28 million for one season is well behind the nearly $32 million Chris Jones will make in 2028,
Last season was a down year for Lawrence, but who knows how much his contract situation played into that performance on a Giants team that wasn't going anywhere anyway.
But now that that's all behind him and he is back in a place where he feels appreciated, the Bengals may have just gotten a steal. A top-10 pick for a potential All-Pro interior lineman to pair with Shemar Stewart, the top-20 edge rusher they selected in the first round last year, seems like a small price to pay.
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This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 11:40 AM.