Giants Trade Dexter Lawrence To Bengals For 2026 No. 10 Draft Pick

The New York Giants agreed to trade Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals for the No. 10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, with multiple outlets describing the deal as pending a physical and a new contract agreement.

ESPN reported that “The New York Giants traded Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals for the No. 10 pick in next week's draft,” citing sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Saturday night.

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USA Today said the trade was agreed to on the evening of April 18 and that “The deal is pending a physical and a new contract agreement for Lawrence with the Bengals.”

The Associated Press, as relayed by the Chicago Tribune, similarly said “The Cincinnati Bengals acquired three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence from the New York Giants for the 10th pick in next week’s NFL draft,” and that “Both people spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal is pending a physical.”

Several reports tied the timing to Lawrence’s public request for a trade on April 6 and to the Giants’ offseason program beginning April 7, with The New York Times noting that “The move, which is pending a physical, comes after Lawrence publicly requested a trade April 6.”

The NFL Network reports, as summarized by NBC Sports, also emphasized that “Via Jordan Raanan of ESPN, the deal is subject to Lawrence passing a physical,” meaning it would not be final until that condition is resolved.

Across coverage, the Giants’ draft capital was a central detail: ESPN said the Giants “now own the rights to the No. 5 and No. 10 picks in the first round,” while USA Today added that New York is “also scheduled to choose fifth overall.”

The trade was driven by a contract impasse and Lawrence’s dissatisfaction with his situation in New York, with outlets describing both the lack of guaranteed money and the timing of his request.

ESPN said “The trade comes after the Giants and Lawrence reached an impasse in negotiations on a new deal,” and it added that Lawrence “has two years remaining on his contract but no guaranteed money left.”

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USA Today similarly described the financial friction, saying Lawrence “still has to pass a physical in Cincinnati and agree to new contract parameters before the transaction becomes official,” and it referenced his “four-year, $87.5 million pact” that “runs through the 2027 season.”

The New York Times provided a specific timeline, stating that “communication began going through Lawrence’s agent, Joel Segal,” and that “The All-Pro defensive tackle has not attended the team’s voluntary offseason workouts, which began April 7.”

It also tied the business to the 2023 extension, noting that “At the time, the 2019 first-round pick’s four-year, $90 million extension made him the third-highest-paid defensive tackle in the league,” but that “before this new deal, the 28-year-old Lawrence had dropped to 12th.”

The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that “Jordan Schultz reported that the Bengals intend to offer Lawrence a 'significant long-term deal,'” while also stating that Lawrence and the Giants “recently reached an impasse in discussions about a contract extension.”

Field Level Media said the Giants’ side of the story included that Lawrence “requested a trade last week and did not report to the Giants’ offseason program,” and it specified that he “is under contract through 2027 but with no guaranteed money remaining.”

The public-facing reactions in the reporting centered on Giants coach John Harbaugh and on the framing of the trade as a business decision rather than a surprise.

The New York Times quoted Harbaugh saying, “Speaking for the Giants, we want Dexter here,” and it reported that he called the prospects of Lawrence staying “high” the day after the trade request went public.

It also described Harbaugh’s explanation of the situation as “That business was about updating Lawrence’s 2023 extension,” and it noted that Harbaugh said the Giants “want” and “need” Lawrence during his pre-draft news conference.

The Cincinnati Enquirer added a direct quote from Harbaugh in response to the trade request, reporting that NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said Harbaugh told him, “I'm not surprised by it. We'll try to work through it.”

ESPN’s coverage focused on the negotiation impasse and on Lawrence’s status as a Pro Bowl player, but it also placed the trade in the context of Cincinnati’s defensive strategy, saying the move helps “solidify an offseason strategy built around strengthening the line of scrimmage.”

USA Today included a Harbaugh quote about Malik Nabers’ recovery timeline, with Harbaugh saying, “Malik is going to be more into training camp and closer to the season,” linking the trade to the broader draft planning for the Giants.

On the Bengals side, the Cincinnati Enquirer said Jordan Schultz reported the Bengals intend to offer Lawrence “a 'significant long-term deal,'” and it described social media reactions involving Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and receiver Ja’Marr Chase.

While the core facts of the trade were consistent, outlets diverged in emphasis—some highlighting draft capital and contract mechanics, others focusing on how unusual the move was for Cincinnati or how it reshaped the Giants’ rebuild.

ESPN framed the trade as a negotiation resolution and stressed rarity, saying “The move is a rare one for Cincinnati” and that “this is the first time the Bengals have traded a Top-10 pick for a player in the common draft era (since 1966).”

CBS Sports

USA Today focused on the draft-day implications and on the pending conditions, writing that “The trade gives the Giants two top-10 selections, as they also hold the fifth overall pick,” and it described the deal as “pending a physical and a new contract agreement.”

The New York Times emphasized the Giants’ internal process and the voluntary workout absence, stating “The All-Pro defensive tackle has not attended the team’s voluntary offseason workouts, which began April 7,” and it also described the Giants’ draft holdings as “The Giants now hold the No. 5, No. 10 and No. 37 picks.”

NBC Sports, by contrast, centered on the NFL Network confirmation and the physical as the gating item, saying “PFT has confirmed that the deal is in place” and that “Via Jordan Raanan of ESPN, the deal is subject to Lawrence passing a physical.”

The Chicago Tribune and Field Level Media both leaned on the Associated Press-style reporting of anonymity and the physical, with the Tribune saying “two people with knowledge of the trade told The Associated Press on Saturday night” and that “Both people spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal is pending a physical.”

Even the grading language differed: USA Today assigned a “Grade: B New York,” while CBS Sports graded the Bengals “B” and the Giants “A,” with CBS Sports writing, “This move is pretty un-Bengals-like” and “A star player wanted out, and the Giants were hesitant to pay him the raise he was after.”

The immediate stakes after the trade revolve around the physical, the contract extension, and how each team uses its draft positioning to address roster needs.

“Dexter Lawrence trade grades: Giants trade defensive tackle to Bengals for No”

CBS Sports

Multiple outlets stressed that the deal is not fully final until Lawrence passes a physical, with NBC Sports saying “Via Jordan Raanan of ESPN, the deal is subject to Lawrence passing a physical,” and USA Today stating “The deal is pending a physical and a new contract agreement for Lawrence with the Bengals.”

CBS Sports

NFL Network reporting, as summarized by NBC Sports and NFL-focused coverage, also indicated that Cincinnati would address the extension, with NBC Sports noting “Our understanding is that it hasn’t happened yet, but that something is expected to occur sooner than later,” and with NFL Network coverage saying “Cincinnati will also be giving Lawrence the extension he has been seeking.”

The Bengals’ defensive urgency was repeatedly tied to their recent performance, with ESPN saying the team “struggled last season as the team missed the playoffs for the third year in a row,” and with the Chicago Tribune listing defensive rankings of “31st in yards allowed, 30th in points allowed and 30th against the run.”

CBS Sports added more detail, stating the Bengals “ranked 31st in total defense (380.9 total yards allowed per game), and No. 30 in scoring defense (28.9 points allowed per game),” and it described a defensive collapse over “eight straight games.”

For the Giants, the stakes were about replacing an interior defensive anchor and using their draft capital, with The New York Times warning that “Now, the pressure will be on the front office to add meaningful depth and a potential starter up front, given the position room was already thin even with Lawrence on the roster.”

The trade also reshaped Cincinnati’s offseason spending and additions, with ESPN listing free agency signings including Boye Mafe to a three-year deal worth $60 million and Jonathan Allen to a two-year deal worth $25 million, and it said Cincinnati also added Bryan Cook on a three-year, $40.25 million deal.