The Bengals made one of their biggest defensive swings of the offseason by bringing in Dexter Lawrence II, and ESPN’s latest ranking suggests they landed a difference-maker, even after a rocky year.
Jeremy Fowler’s poll of NFL scouts, executives and coaches placed Lawrence at No. 7 among defensive tackles, a notable drop from No. 1 a year ago but still firmly inside the top 10. Fowler wrote, "7.
Dexter Lawrence II, Cincinnati Bengals. Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Unranked...
Last year's ranking: 1," and added, "Lawrence fell six spots, but the drop in his play isn't that steep."
That matters for Cincinnati, which sent the No. 10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to the New York Giants in a simple swap for the massive interior lineman. The Bengals spent the offseason trying to reshape their defense, and Lawrence is the headline move.
His 2025 season was a down one by his standards. He finished with just 0.5 sack in a career-low year, but there were clear reasons behind the dip. Fowler noted that Lawrence was double-teamed on 71.3% of his pass-rush snaps, the highest rate for any player with at least 300 pass-rush snaps.
Even with that rough stretch, Lawrence’s resume still carries serious weight. He made the Pro Bowl in three straight seasons from 2022 through 2024, posting 7.5, 4.5 and 9.0 sacks in those years. He’s also a two-time second-team All-Pro.
The belief around the league is that a change of scenery could help him get back to that level. One NFC scout said, "I think he'll be rejuvenated there.
He wasn't happy in New York. He's got to keep his conditioning in check, but when he's at his best, he's next to impossible to block."
For the Bengals, the takeaway is straightforward: even after a disappointing season, Lawrence is still viewed as one of the league’s best at his position, and there’s still a case for him to climb back toward the top of the list.
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