He didn’t end up with the Seattle Seahawks, but two members of the Super Bowl LX champions played a crucial role in influencing Dexter Lawrence II to push for a trade away from the New York Giants.
That’s according to Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. He revealed to The Carton Show on WFAN Sports Radio how former Giants “Leonard Williams and Julian Love voicing to Dexter, both what happened with them, as far as (Williams) being traded out of town, and then Julian feeling like he wasn’t properly valued, and then leaving and being able to come back to Dexter and saying ‘hey, the grass actually is greener on the other side.’ These were a lot of the factors that Dexter was internalising as he also felt underpaid.”
All-Pro nose tackle Lawrence got what he wanted when the Giants traded him to the Cincinnati Bengals for the 10th pick n the 2026 NFL draft. Now he has the chance to do what defensive tackle Williams and free safety Love accomplished. Namely, swapping a life of losing with Big Blue for winning the Vince Lombardi Trophy in a new home.
The Seahawks’ chances of retaining that title would look a lot stronger if general manager John Schneider had turned perceived interest in Lawrence into an actual deal.
Schneider opting to sit out these trade talks is revealing about how the Seahawks will approach this draft. Particularly when it comes to safeguarding and reinforcing the league’s toughest defense.
Seahawks Played It Safe Amid Dexter Lawrence Trade
The availability of Lawrence, arguably the most dominant interior pass-rusher in football, would’ve piqued the interest of every NFL team. Yet, not every team’s draft capital is as limited as the Seahawks, who own a mere four picks.
Rather than paying a premium by dealing his first-rounder away for a 28-year-old, albeit an established talent, Schneider has other plans. His strategy is focused on acquiring more picks.
Any extra selections Schneider gains could be used to help the Seahawks get younger along the defensive line. Particularly at the interior, where ageing but still effective Williams remains a force.
Leonard Williams Leads Group Needing Infusion of Youth
Williams, who spent four years playing alongside Lawrence before being traded to the Seahawks in 2023, is 31, but he’s not the only veteran presence on the D-tackle depth chart. There’s also 33-year-old nose tackle Jarran Reed, while soon-to-be 34-year-old DeMarcus Lawrence can line up inside.
Drafting a heir apparent for Lawrence would give the Seahawks some much-needed younger depth for the interior. So would taking a natural defensive tackle off the board, either with the final pick of the first round, or else with the 64th-overall selection.
Either of those choices would position the Seahawks to select one of the top players from the position group. A prospect like Clemson’s Peter Woods, Caleb Banks of Florida or Texas Tech linchpin Lee Hunter.
Any of these bulky disruptors would partner well with Williams and narrative-changing nose guard, third-year pro Byron Murphy II. His rapid emergence as an irreplaceable cornerstone of Seattle’s front seven is another good reason why the Seahawks were sensible to pass on Lawrence.
No matter how hard Williams and Love may have tried to convince him to move to Lumen Field.
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