New York Giants defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence has dominated his position since entering the league in 2019. He’s consistently at the top of defensive rankings, save for last year when he dislocated his elbow and missed the final six games of the 2024 season.
Given his history and his ability to make an impact on the field, it’s no surprise that Lawrence lands on PFF’s top 50 players of 2025.
DI DEXTER LAWRENCE, NEW YORK GIANTSLawrence has emerged as one of the NFL’s most dominant defensive players over the past three seasons. His 89.9 PFF grade in 2024 ranked third among defensive tackles, trailing only Chris Jones and Cameron Heyward. He leads all interior defenders with a 93.3 PFF grade since 2022, and he sits second to Jones in PFF WAR. Lawrence’s versatility sets him apart — he’s the only defensive tackle with 90.0-plus grades in both pass rushing and run defense over that span.
Lawrence officially comes in at No. 14. Kansas City Chiefs’ Chris Jones is the only interior lineman to rank above him. There are a few edge players ranked ahead of him, but Jones is the only iDL to out-rank him.
Lawrence’s dislocated elbow did not require surgery, and his recovery is going quite well. The timeline for elbow dislocations that do not require surgery is roughly three months, and Lawrence will have nine months of recovery time when training camp starts next week. He is already in peak shape and is expected to be ready to go full-force when the players report next week.
The Giants desperately need Lawrence to stay healthy in 2025. With their offseason additions and improvements, keeping the defensive line intact will be a huge part of the team’s success this year.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New York Giants’ Dexter Lawrence among PFF’s 50 best players of 2025
Reporting by Serena Burks, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
