It’s hard to say just how serious the Cleveland Browns were about bringing in former Giants star Dexter Lawrence because, in the end, they were not as serious about it as the Bengals. The Browns have the No. 6 pick in the draft, and the Bengals were sitting 10th before making the deal with New York for Lawrence–the Browns could have easily won the bidding by sending the sixth pick to the Giants. But Cleveland would not go that far and, besides, the Browns like what they have on the defensive front with Maliek Collins.
Lawrence would have been a fearsome addition to an already imposing Browns defense. But led by Collins and second-year man Mason Graham up front, Cleveland has talent on the line. If nothing else, their involvement–the Browns have picks No. 24 and 39–in the Lawrence trade forced the division-rival Bengals to up their offer for Lawrence and cough up No. 10.
Whether the Browns’ offer to the Giants was genuine or divisional gamesmanship doesn’t matter much now, but what does matter is that Cleveland get Collins back 100% healthy after a November injury that saw him suffer a difficult torn quad tendon.
Maliek Collins Rehabbing Difficult Injury After Surgery
There have been some positives for Collins as he works his way back. He has been at the Browns facility and the expectation is that he will be ready for the start of the season, and probably for the start of training camp. Collins was having what might have been his best season in the NFL playing for the Browns, in the first year of a two-year, $20 million contract. He’d recorded 6.5 sacks as a defensive lineman.
According to Mary Kay Cabot, Browns beat reporter for Cleveland.com, Collins has been a consistent presence at the team facility and is on track to return.
She wrote: “Collins, heading into the final year of his two-year, $20 million deal, is back working out at Browns headquarters, and is expected to be ready for the season. If he can pick up where he left off last year, the Browns won’t miss Lawrence this season. He was, in fact, the Browns best defensive tackle in 2025, and an excellent mentor for the younger tackles.”
GettyDexter Lawrence was a Browns trade candidate.
Browns Ready to Keep Investing in Defense
Indeed, the Browns have invested heavily in the defensive line position in recent years, with the understanding that their ability to hold the fort in the middle can be part of unlocking what record-breaking pass-rusher Myles Garrett does so well on the edge. The signing of Maliek Collins was an excellent measure, but a stopgap one.
Mason Graham was the No. 5 pick overall last year, as the Browns passed on the chance to improve the offense with the likes of budding star receivers Tetairoa McMillan and Emeka Egbuka, or much-needed offensive tackles Armand Membou or Kelvin Banks.
But Graham showed promise in his first season, and the Browns also invested a 2024 second-round pick in Mike Hall, who will need to show significant progress after two slow seasons to start his career. The Browns added Kalia Davis from the 49ers to their mix, too.
Still, the interest in Lawrence does show that, as much as the Browns are badly in need of offensive help, they won’t miss a chance to bolster the D, too.
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