Bengals Trade No. 10 Pick for 3-Time Pro Bowler Days Before NFL Draft

Cincinnati acquires defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence from the Giants in a surprise deal.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 1:41am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a football player making a tackle, with sharp, overlapping planes of navy blue, burnt orange, and forest green representing the raw physicality and fragmented perspectives of the sport.The Bengals' bold trade for star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence signals their commitment to building a championship contender around quarterback Joe Burrow.Today in Pittsburgh

In a stunning move just days before the NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals traded the No. 10 overall pick to the New York Giants in exchange for three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. The deal signals the Bengals' commitment to win now with quarterback Joe Burrow, as they look to bolster their defensive front after missing the playoffs the past three seasons.

Why it matters

The Bengals are clearly operating in win-now mode, sacrificing a high draft pick to acquire an established star in Lawrence who can immediately upgrade their defensive line. This move comes after Cincinnati struggled on defense in recent years, missing the playoffs, and shows their urgency to build a championship-caliber roster around Burrow.

The details

The trade was a straight player-for-pick swap, with the Bengals sending the No. 10 overall selection to the Giants in exchange for Lawrence. The 28-year-old defensive tackle had been seeking a long-term extension from New York but the two sides were far apart in negotiations, leading to Lawrence requesting a trade after seven seasons with the organization.

  • The 2023 NFL Draft is set to take place on Thursday, April 27th in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The players

Dexter Lawrence

A three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle who has started 102 of 109 games in his 7-year NFL career, totaling 341 tackles, 30.5 sacks, 103 quarterback hits, and 40 tackles for loss.

Joe Burrow

The Bengals' starting quarterback, who the team is clearly building around as they look to return to the playoffs after missing out the past three seasons.

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What’s next

The Bengals will now look to build around their new defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, while the Giants have added the No. 10 overall pick to their arsenal ahead of the draft.

The takeaway

This trade demonstrates the Bengals' urgency to win now and build a championship-caliber roster around quarterback Joe Burrow, even if it means sacrificing a high draft pick. It also highlights the Giants' willingness to move on from a disgruntled star player in Lawrence in order to acquire valuable draft capital.