Giants trade disgruntled star Dexter Lawrence to Bengals, get 10th overall pick in return

The Giants have traded star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals, sources confirm.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 8:35pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a defensive tackle making a tackle, with sharp, overlapping planes of dark blue, forest green, and burnt orange.The Giants' trade of star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals signals a shift in New York's approach as they look to rebuild through the draft.Philadelphia Today

The Giants have traded star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals, sources told the Daily News, 12 days after he publicly requested to be shipped out of New York. The Giants acquired Cincinnati's No. 10 overall pick in Thursday night's first round of the NFL Draft in the deal.

Why it matters

Losing Lawrence does not improve the Giants' team in the short term, as a limited version of Lawrence resulted in the NFL's worst run defense in the 2025 season. However, this extra draft pick will help the Giants set up the franchise well for the long-term as they continue to build for the future under new head coach John Harbaugh.

The details

The trade is a straight up one-for-one deal: Lawrence for the Bengals' 10th overall pick. The Giants now hold two top 10 picks in Thursday's first round: No. 5 and No. 10 overall. Harbaugh is setting a new tone for the organization by getting a fed-up player out of his leadership and locker room, and by changing Lawrence out for a premium pick who will be under cost control and hopefully become a cornerstone for the future.

  • Dexter Lawrence publicly requested a trade from the Giants 12 days ago.
  • The trade was completed on Saturday, April 19, 2026.

The players

Dexter Lawrence

A star defensive tackle for the Giants who requested a trade after growing tired of losing, as the team has gone 7-27 in their last 34 games.

John Harbaugh

The new head coach of the Giants, who is setting a new tone for the organization by trading away disgruntled players and acquiring premium draft picks to build the team for the long-term.

Joe Schoen

The Giants' general manager, who has previously made trades that helped the Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle Seahawks reach the Super Bowl.

Joe Burrow

The quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals, who the team is trying to support with an improved defense by acquiring Dexter Lawrence.

B.J. Hill

A former Giants third-round pick who is now playing for the Bengals as part of their interior defensive line.

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What they’re saying

“'Everybody's tradeable.'”

— John Harbaugh, Giants head coach

What’s next

The Giants now hold two top 10 picks in Thursday's first round of the NFL Draft, which they can use to bolster their defense and provide more weapons for quarterback Jaxson Dart.

The takeaway

This trade signals a new era for the Giants under head coach John Harbaugh, as he is willing to move on from disgruntled players in order to acquire premium draft capital and build the team for long-term success. The Giants are prioritizing the future over the short-term, hoping that these two top 10 picks can help set the franchise up for a brighter future.