The Giants cannot afford to trade Dexter Lawrence due to multiple critical factors, including:
Primary Factor: Defensive Line Depth
New York’s defensive line is already thin behind Dexter Lawrence, with Roy Robertson-Harris and Darius Alexander being the next in line. This lack of depth makes it difficult for the team to sustain a unit without Lawrence.
Secondary Factor: Run Defense Improvement
The Giants have struggled stopping the run over the past few seasons, ranking 31st in the NFL in rushing defense last year. Trading Lawrence would be counterproductive to addressing this priority as he has a 32% run stop win rate since entering the league, ranking among the top half of players at his position.
Tertiary Factor: Roster Construction
The Giants’ offseason plans are based on the assumption that Lawrence will be a key piece of their defense. Moving him now would require significant adjustments to their roster construction and scheme, which is impractical given the late stage of the NFL calendar.
Supporting Factors:
1. Limited Free Agency Options
2. Rookies Not Ready for Prime Role
The Giants face limited options in free agency to replace Lawrence with an elite defensive tackle, and relying on rookies is unlikely to improve their run defense this season.
Conclusion:
Given these factors, it’s unlikely the Giants will trade Dexter Lawrence at this stage of the offseason. They must either find a way to make his $20 million salary work for 2026 or offer him a significant contract extension to keep him with the team.