On Saturday, the New York Giants executed a significant trade by sending three-time Pro Bowl nose tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
The deal, which came amid stalled contract talks between Lawrence and New York, allowed the Giants to shed the 28-year-old’s impending $20 million salary for 2026 while gaining valuable draft capital.
ESPN analyst Seth Walder awarded the Giants an “A” for the transaction and the Bengals a “D,” highlighting the disparity in perceived value.
For the Giants, this is surely much better than they could have imagined. It was not unreasonable that the team didn’t want to give a 28-year-old defensive tackle with two years left on his deal a new contract. But the Bengals solved that problem for New York, and handing the Giants such a premium draft pick must have made it easy to say goodbye. Though Lawrence was a major part of the Giants’ defensive front, a new high draft pick offers the Giants star-level upside on a team-friendly deal for years to come. And assuming no alterations were made to Lawrence’s contract before the trade, the Giants get 20 million dollars off the books.
Losing an elite player stings. But nothing dulls the pain like a trade partner willing to overpay.
Walder’s assessment underscores the Giants’ strategic success. By offloading a high-salary veteran whose recent production had dipped slightly due to injury and age-related factors, New York positioned itself for long-term flexibility.
The acquired first-round selection provides an opportunity to add a young, cost-controlled talent with potential star upside, bolstering the roster without the immediate financial burden.
For the Bengals, the move represented a bold but costly attempt to fortify their defensive line, pairing Lawrence with recent free-agent additions. However, Walder questioned the steep price, surrendering a top-10 pick for a player not coming off his peak, suggesting Cincinnati may have overpaid amid desperation to improve a unit that struggled in prior seasons.
Overall — at least for now — the Giants appear to have won this trade.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: What grade did New York Giants receive for Dexter Lawrence trade?
Reporting by Dan Benton, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
