The Chicago Bears might not need to wait until draft night to find an upgrade for their interior defensive line amid news that an All-Pro has requested a trade.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, New York Giants veteran defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence has formally requested a trade from the team and has no plans to participate in the Giants’ voluntary offseason workout program when it begins on Tuesday, April 7.
“Lawrence and the Giants have been through two offseasons attempting to negotiate a contract reflecting his value to the Giants over the last three years, but there has not been any progress, per sources,” Schefter wrote Monday on X.
Even better for Chicago fans, there is also a report floating around from Packer Report’s Easton Butler that the Bears are among the teams that have already called the Giants to ask about a potential trade for Lawrence, who would cost about $13 million in 2026.
Dexter Lawrence Trade Would Elevate Bears Defense
Lawrence — a second-team All-Pro in 2022 and 2023 — would be a premium addition to a Bears defensive line that finished 31st in the league in the pass-rush win rate (29%) and 26th in run-stop win rate (29%) during the 2025 season, per ESPN Analytics.
While Lawrence tallied the fewest sacks (0.5) of his career despite playing all 17 games, he was still largely effective as a penetrating pass rusher, generating 34 pressures with 27 hurries. He also finished with an 8% pass-rush win rate and earned an 84.5 pass-rush grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking seventh best among defensive tackles.
That’s enough to think that Lawrence’s 2025 production is more of an anomaly than a sign that he is on the decline, especially since he logged 30 sacks in his first six seasons.
The big question for the Bears, as always, is price. The Giants are unlikely to move on from Lawrence unless they receive a high-value offer, but the asking price is unclear at this point in time. Even still, the Bears have the assets to make them a compelling offer.
The simplest offer for the Bears could be their 2026 first-round pick (No. 25 overall) for Lawrence, but it would work better for them if they could package a player with one of their two second-round selections (Nos. 57 and 60) to create a little more cap room. Lawrence would cost about $13 million to add to their 2026 books, meaning they would need to restructure or outright cut multiple contracts to clear the necessary cap space.
If the plan at No. 25 overall is to target a defensive tackle, though, an already-developed Lawrence could make much more sense for a playoff-contending Bears roster in 2026.
Would Bears Be Better Off Adding a DT in the Draft?
Lawrence is the type of player who should generate quite a bit of attention on the trade market. Maybe not quite as much as Maxx Crosby, but potentially in the same realm as Quinnen Williams before the New York Jets traded him to the Dallas Cowboys last year.
Even still, the Bears must first decide how they feel about the defensive tackle prospects in this year’s draft class before giving up a major asset to acquire a 28-year-old veteran.
The Bears could have a realistic shot at one or several of the top defensive tackles in the 2026 class at No. 25 overall, but they are also at the mercy of the teams above them in the order, more so than in previous offseasons when they picked inside the top 10. That uncertainty could force them to consider bolder options if they feel an interior defender is their No. 1 priority for the draft, whether that be trading up or dealing for Lawrence.
On the other hand, if the Bears feel the defensive tackle position is deeper in 2026 and could present them with quality second-round options, they might prefer to hold onto their first-round pick and put it toward another position of need, such as edge rusher.
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