The New York Giants have done good work this offseason, but they find themselves dealing with some drama ahead of the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. That’s because general manager Joe Schoen and the front office have to figure out what to do with defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence after he requested a trade earlier this month.
Lawrence has made it clear he’s looking for a new contract, but to this point, there hasn’t been much movement towards a deal getting finalized, which led him to request a trade. Now, New York has to decide whether it wants to hammer out a deal with Lawrence or send him to another team, with Schoen addressing the situation on Tuesday when speaking to the media.
Joe Schoen Addresses Dexter Lawrence Trade Request
After getting selected with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Lawrence has spent his first seven seasons with the Giants, and during that time, he’s turned himself into one of the premier defensive tackles in the league. From 2022 to 2024, Lawrence earned three straight Pro Bowl selections, including a pair of All-Pro Second Team honors in 2022 and 2023.
Lawrence didn’t exactly stuff the stat sheet in 2025, as he finished with just 31 tackles, 0.5 sacks, one interception, and four pass breakups, but he still played a key role along New York’s defensive line. While he has two years left on his current contract, Lawrence feels he is underpaid, which is why he either wants a new deal or a trade to a team that will give him what he wants.
Schoen and company have likely known that they were going to have to do something with Lawrence this offseason after they put a band-aid on his deal ahead of the 2025 campaign. However, the team doesn’t appear to be in a rush to make a decision on Lawrence’s future, although Schoen did note that, while he’s always listening to trade offers for his players, the two sides have had productive conversations recently.
“Right now, (we’re having) productive conversations, and we’ll see where it goes,” Schoen said on Tuesday. “I’m always gonna pick up the phone if a team calls … That’s my job, to take into consideration what the compensation looks like, who the player is, how that affects the roster, and then try to make the best decision off of that.”
What Should the Giants Do with Dexter Lawrence?
GettyDexter Lawrence II #97 of the New York Giants reacts after his sack against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field.
Extending Lawrence is going to be costly, but teams know that they are going to have to pay their top players in order to keep them in town. Lawrence is still just 28 years old, and while he’s still in his prime, this is likely his last opportunity to earn a significant pay raise before his career begins to wind down in his 30s.
Lawrence could fetch a pretty big haul on the trade market, but at some point, New York is going to need to focus on completing its rebuild, rather than continuing to add draft assets. The front office could trade Lawrence and get a strong return, but ultimately, it would be more beneficial if the team gave him the sort of contract he wants in order to ensure that he will remain a key part of their defensive line for years to come.
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