Dexter Lawrence’s Future With the Giants: A Tough Call Looms in a Pivotal Offseason
The 2025 season didn’t go the way Dexter Lawrence-or the New York Giants-hoped. After a dominant 2024 campaign that had him in the conversation as one of the league’s premier interior defensive linemen, Lawrence's production fell off a cliff. And now, with John Harbaugh stepping in as the new head coach and the franchise entering yet another pivotal offseason, Lawrence’s name is quietly starting to surface in trade conversations.
Let’s be clear: Lawrence is still widely respected around the league. He’s a three-time Pro Bowler, a two-time Second-Team All-Pro, and when healthy, he can wreck a game plan from the inside out. But the numbers in 2025 tell a different story-one that could force the Giants into a difficult decision.
A Steep Decline in Production
Lawrence’s statistical drop-off was hard to ignore. Just 0.5 sacks, 31 total tackles, and 8 quarterback hits across a full 17-game season.
Compare that to 2024, when he posted 9.0 sacks in just 12 games before an elbow injury on Thanksgiving sent him to IR. That 2024 version of Lawrence was a game-wrecker.
He was living in the backfield and grading out near elite levels by Pro Football Focus standards.
But since that injury? He hasn’t recorded a full sack in his last 22 games.
That’s a stunning stat for a player who was once the heartbeat of the Giants' defensive front. Yes, he still draws double teams-he always has-but that alone doesn’t explain the lack of impact plays.
The Financial Angle: A Contract Crossroads
From a cap standpoint, the Giants are staring down a decision window. Lawrence is set to carry a $26.9 million cap hit in 2026, which would eat up nearly 9% of the team's total salary cap. For a player coming off a career-low season, that’s a tough pill to swallow.
Here’s where it gets interesting: for the first time since signing his extension, the Giants have a viable out. Trading Lawrence this offseason would result in a $13.9 million dead cap hit-but it would also free up roughly $13 million in space. That’s real money, especially for a team that may need to extend key pieces like wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson.
In previous years, moving Lawrence wasn’t even an option. The dead cap numbers were astronomical-north of $40 million.
But now? The math starts to make a little more sense, especially if the front office is looking to reallocate resources under a new coaching regime.
Trade Value: What Could the Giants Get?
The big question: what’s Dexter Lawrence worth on the trade market?
According to one front office source, the Giants probably wouldn’t get a haul like the Jets did when they moved Quinnen Williams-a second-round pick in 2026 and a first-rounder in 2027. Lawrence’s value, at this point, is seen more in the range of a second-rounder plus a mid-round pick.
That’s not insignificant, but it might not be enough to justify moving on from a player who, at his peak, is one of the most disruptive interior defenders in football. If a team were to come in with a more aggressive offer-something closer to what Dallas gave up for Williams-then the conversation changes.
But short of that? The Giants might prefer to ride it out and hope Lawrence bounces back under Harbaugh’s leadership.
A Franchise at a Crossroads
This is the kind of decision that defines offseasons. On one hand, Lawrence is a homegrown star, a locker room leader, and a proven difference-maker when healthy. On the other, he’s coming off a down year, carries a hefty cap hit, and may never recapture his 2024 form.
The Giants are entering a new era with Harbaugh at the helm. That means fresh eyes on every position, and no player-no matter how decorated-is guaranteed to stick around.
Trading Lawrence isn’t the most likely scenario, but it’s no longer unthinkable. The cap savings, the potential draft capital, and the need to reshape the roster all make it a conversation worth having.
Whether Lawrence is part of the next chapter or becomes a valuable trade chip remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the Giants are at a turning point, and every move from here on out will help shape the franchise’s future.