Last week, New York Giants Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Burns chimed in on the Dexter Lawrence saga, saying the “Giants aren’t the Giants” without Lawrence, who was embroiled in a contract dispute with the club.
Now that Lawrence has been traded to Cincinnati for the 10th overall selection in the 2026 NFL draft, Burns is wondering how the team plans on filling the massive void along the defensive line left behind by the departure of the 340-pound Lawrence.
He has a preference for who he would like the Giants to target.
“I would like to see a veteran,” he said on The Exhibit podcast with Josina Anderson. “Somebody who has done it before, somebody who has been in the paint — we’re not really in the position where we need to mold a bunch of young d-tackles, a veteran presence would be great in the middle of our defense, for sure.”
The Giants are working on that. They had planned on having Lawrence in the fold for this season and beyond, but his demand to be traded was a clear sign his time was done here. The eight-year veteran apparently wanted nothing to do with the strenuous and challenging training camp being planned by incoming head coach John Harbaugh.
Harbaugh runs his in-season practices with a purpose as well, using every opportunity to slap on the pads and get physical. The younger players might revel in that, but most seasoned veterans aren’t feeling it. They want their recovery time. It was a reason for Lawrence to seek more money out of the Giants, but they weren’t willing to capitulate until after the draft at least, hence the trade was made.
The Giants will have to find solutions in the middle and could end up being better off without Lawrence.
Keep in mind, the Giants were the second-worst defense against the run with Lawrence in the lineup last season. Perhaps some new players and a different approach are needed.
From Connor Hughes of SNY:
Even before the Lawrence trade was on the table, the Giants began laying the groundwork for a couple of veteran options, bringing in D.J. Reader and Shelby Harris for visits.
Reader is arguably the top option on the board, coming off a season in which he finished with a 72.6 PFF pass-rush grade across 17 games with the Lions.
Harris remained a steady run-stopper last year in 17 games with the Browns (62.3 PFF run-defense grade), and recorded 19 of his 228 career quarterback hurries.
Calais Campbell, 39, could also be an option if he decides to play a 19th season.
Burns could get his wish here. The Giants have the money now to sign both Reader and Harris if they choose to. With the draft only offering Day 2 and 3 solutions at the position, and the Giants with two picks in the top 10, they would be better used on players at other positions.
Expect the Giants to go the veteran route to address their D-line needs.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants’ Brian Burns on how he’d like to see Dexter Lawrence replaced
Reporting by John Fennelly, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
