The New York Giants will have two top-10 draft picks after they traded disgruntled defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for their 10th overall pick in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, it was announced on Sunday.
The three-time Pro Bowler requested a trade from the Giants after contract issues, and now he’s gotten his wish.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Lawrence is signing a one-year, $28 million contract extension with the Bengals, which keeps him tied to Cincinnati for the next three seasons.
With the move, the Giants own eight picks total heading into Round 1 on Thursday night.
It would also mark the second consecutive year the Giants have used multiple selections in the first round after they took outside linebacker Abdul Carter third overall and then traded back into the first round to draft quarterback Jaxson Dart with the 25th pick. Furthermore, in 2022, the Giants had two top-10 picks when they drafted outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux fifth overall and offensive lineman Evan Neal seventh.
Lawrence, 28, who was a first-round pick of the Giants in 2019, played in 109 regular-season games with 102 starts over the course of his seven seasons with the Giants. His career totals include 341 tackles, 103 quarterback hits, 40 tackles for loss, 30.5 sacks, 15 passes defensed, five forced fumbles, and an interception.
For the Bengals, they get much-needed help on the defensive line after losing Trey Hendrickson to the Ravens in free agency.
The 2026 NFL Draft, which is three days, begins on Thursday in Pittsburgh.
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