New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh expressed confidence that the team and star nose tackle Dexter Lawrence could still find common ground despite the player’s recent trade request.
Speaking to reporters via Zoom on Tuesday, Harbaugh addressed the situation as the Giants prepared to open their voluntary offseason program.
“We will find out, but I expect prospects to be high. Speaking for the Giants, we want Dex here and I believe Dexter wants to be here, but it’s a business. It’s football. We will try to work through it and see what happens,” Harbaugh said.
Harbaugh added that he would not be directly involved in negotiations but planned to offer his input, noting that general manager Joe Schoen and vice president of football operations and strategy Dawn Aponte handle those matters effectively.
“We’ve had good conversations with Dexter’s agent, Joel Segal, and understood what they were thinking,” Harbaugh added. “This is where we’re at and we’ll try to work through it — see what we can get done.”
Harbaugh also revealed he had anticipated the possibility of a trade request weeks in advance. He had spoken with Lawrence twice earlier in the offseason, though those conversations ceased at Schoen’s direction.
The development comes amid stalled contract discussions for the three-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman, who is entering the final two years of his deal. Harbaugh emphasized a collaborative approach as the franchise navigates the early days of his tenure.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants’ John Harbaugh wasn’t caught off guard by Dexter Lawrence trade request
Reporting by Dan Benton, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
