Saints Face Uphill Battle to Trade for Giants' Dexter Lawrence

New Orleans may want the star defensive tackle, but acquiring him will require significant draft capital and salary cap maneuvering.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 1:36pm

The New Orleans Saints are reportedly interested in trading for New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, who recently requested a trade from the team. However, industry experts believe the Saints will face major challenges in pulling off such a deal, as it would require surrendering valuable draft picks and navigating a complex salary cap situation.

Why it matters

The Saints' defense has struggled to generate interior pressure, and adding a dominant tackle like Lawrence could immediately elevate their unit. But the high cost of acquiring an elite player of his caliber may force the Saints to weigh the short-term benefits against the long-term roster-building implications.

The details

To land Lawrence, the Saints would likely need to part with at least a second-round draft pick, and potentially more, as other teams would likely try to outbid New Orleans. Additionally, integrating Lawrence's sizable veteran contract into the Saints' salary cap would require significant financial maneuvering. These factors make the Saints one of the least likely teams, according to oddsmakers, to successfully trade for the Giants star.

  • Dexter Lawrence recently formalized a trade request to depart from the New York Giants.

The players

Dexter Lawrence

A star defensive tackle for the New York Giants who has requested a trade from the team.

New Orleans Saints

The NFL team that is reportedly interested in trading for Dexter Lawrence, but faces significant challenges in pulling off such a deal.

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What’s next

The Saints will need to carefully weigh the potential benefits of acquiring Dexter Lawrence against the significant cost and salary cap implications. The team's front office will likely explore various trade scenarios, but industry experts believe the odds of a deal materializing are low.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the challenges NFL teams face when trying to trade for elite veteran talent, as the high price tag and salary cap constraints can make such transactions prohibitively difficult, even for teams with a clear need at a particular position.