Giants Taking Calls On Dexter Lawrence; Should Jason Licht Be Involved?
April 15th, 2026
Giants DT Dexter Lawrence.
As Joe has written, day by day Joe inches toward the belief the Bucs, if they can trade down, would love to bag gnarly Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald.
There may be a less risky option for maybe a lesser price.
It seems the Giants and their three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence are in a contract hassle. Talks broke down yesterday.
Lawrence wants more money. The Giants don’t seem to be on board with a raise.
And it also seems, per intel from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Giants want to know from Lawrence’s camp by the time the draft rolls around whether they need to fish or cut bait.
So the Giants are listening to trade offers. A first-round pick seems to be the ransom.
Joe totally gets why the Bucs would want to beef up their defensive front. Joe spelled it all out here yesterday.
A draft pick might underwhelm. Joe thinks McDonald is safe as they come, but neither he nor anyone in the draft is a slam dunk.
At least with Lawrence, 28, there is a body of work.
Lawrence started all 17 games in 2025 but had a career low in sacks and tackles. That’s not exactly the greatest timing to be stomping your feet for more cash. So there is a good chance Licht could be buying a guy on the wrong side of his career.
So, how about a conditional draft pick? If Lawrence can get X-amount of tackles and X-amount of sacks, then the Giants get a Y-draft pick. Meanwhile, the Bucs pick up Lawrence’s contract?
Lawrence’s contract is not quite $20 million for this season. He reportedly wants $30 million. And Joe wants to come home to Kate Upton tonight.
Though the Giants have an out this offseason, his current contract expires after the 2027 season.
If Lawrence is anything like his old self, you line him up next to Vita Vea, and Joe pities the poor centers and guards who have to tangle with the Bucs this season.
April 15th, 2026 at 7:05 am
Rather draft McDonald in the first, or Hunter in the second. Lawerence is just to much to spend.
April 15th, 2026 at 7:10 am
Just depends on where Licht sees the team a 4th id do it no doubt
April 15th, 2026 at 7:12 am
Draft McDonald- then double down on OLB and corners..
April 15th, 2026 at 7:25 am
From what I understand this guy was fine with his contract being fat when he signed it and now that he isn’t one of the highest paid is wanting more money. This from a Giants fan with intel. When guys start doing this it sends red flags up. Devin White red flags.
April 15th, 2026 at 7:26 am
You want to give up a conditional first round pick in a loaded ‘27 draft class (one where we might be picking in the top 10) for a guy who will be 29 next year?
No thanks. That’s a move for team that is one player away. Which we are not.
And if mayfield cants stay healthy enough (again) to be productive the entire season, the new coach might want that pick to evaluate the qb position.
April 15th, 2026 at 7:26 am
Meh, this is a trade and pay scenario right before the draft.
I’d be more interested in this if Robinson weren’t signed. If the situation didn’t come about just because Lawrence knows his clock is ticking & wants to get paid big time, one last time.
April 15th, 2026 at 7:27 am
Go with drafting a young guy. He’ll have enough time to learn before Kancey goes down with another injury. We cannot spend 20 million on a disgruntled aging player.
April 15th, 2026 at 7:50 am
Hard No for this guy. Lowest tackles and sacks of his career and he wants a raise? We had this guy on our team before but he wore the name of Devin White.
April 15th, 2026 at 8:03 am
Pass on Lawrence. We’ve seen this movie before. A guy getting older, his play starting to slip, wants more money etc…no thanks.
April 15th, 2026 at 8:11 am
If I’m giving away picks AND paying top dollar….im going for Myles G. That dude produces regardless of what the sorry Browns put on the field. Myles just got paid as well so you’re only absorbing his current salary, he’s not jockeying for new guaranteed money like the fella in the article. Glazers will happily pay Mayfield but just knowing how they operate, I don’t see them shelling out multiple guaranteed deals. That’s a ton of cash upfront that they have to actually pay now.
April 15th, 2026 at 8:14 am
They passed on Dexter Lawrence for Devin White
I say pass on him again
The big contract Carolina gave Jaelan Phillips
Might be resetting the market for Edge Rushers and DTs
Yaya Diaby camp might be wanting a similar contract
April 15th, 2026 at 8:32 am
Dude is considered one of the best DTs in the game. It’s definitely worth kicking the tires on. A 1st seems steep but there’s multiple option you can present.
April 15th, 2026 at 8:42 am
Hopefully we will pass
April 15th, 2026 at 8:47 am
I stopped reading at “first round pick seems to be the ransom.”
You know that is never going to happen. I’m not even trying to debate whether it should or should not. It’s just that it never will happen.
April 15th, 2026 at 8:53 am
i say get him, IF AND ONLY IF we can lock up Vita at the same time
no team in the NFL would want to face the those 2
GO BUCS!!!!!
April 15th, 2026 at 9:01 am
The Bucs had a DT need going into the off-season. I was looking hard at DTs in the draft and thought adding one early made sense. Then they went out and added Robinson and Nacho. Now you have a very good rotation on DL with Vita, Kancey, Robinson, Nacho and Roberts.
The DT need isn’t nearly as big as Edge, LBer, CB and guard. I’d be ok with them drafting someone after the 2nd round. I just dont see them drafting one in the first 2 rounds or trading for an older one who wants more money.
I really think the Bucs go edge, LBer or CB in round one either after trading down or at 15. The only other position that wouldn’t shock me would be OL. It just might turn out the BPA will be a stud OL..either a tackle that starts at guard initially or a true guard. Gotta be one of those 4 positions..right?
April 15th, 2026 at 9:07 am
“less risky option for maybe a lesser price”. Less risky, absolutely. Lesser price? I’m pretty sure 20 million is a bigger number than 4+ million, which would be the average salary of the 15th pick in this years draft.
April 15th, 2026 at 9:12 am
No-brainer. Let the Giant’s problem stay the Giant’s problem. Asking price way too high.
April 15th, 2026 at 9:34 am
If they are still interested in doing a deal after the draft and we didn’t pick any DTs in the first 3 rounds, then I’d call.
April 15th, 2026 at 9:40 am
Would be nice to trade him for A 6th round pick and a $14M salary. Otherwise he is the Giants problem. The guy is going to find out that $30M is a no go for his low production.
April 15th, 2026 at 9:47 am
Not a deal Jason would make it’s not a dollar store bargain.
April 15th, 2026 at 9:59 am
If the Bucs trade for the dude, he’ll play like Jennifer Lawrence without looking near as good.