Early in April, defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence requested a trade. Not long after, the Jacksonville Jaguars stated that they hadn't considered reaching out to the New York Giants to inquire about his availability. Having said that, Lawrence is one of the defensive tackles in the league, so nobody would bat an eye if the Jags changed their mind. This is especially true when you take into account that this year's class of defensive linemen isn't particularly great.
If Jacksonville wants to acquire Lawrence, a deal could take place on draft day. Then again, the details of a recent report could ultimately prevent a trade from happening.
The Jaguars would have to give up a substantial haul for Dexter Lawrence
NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that the Dexter Lawrence debacle is worse than originally thought, pointing out that his dispute goes beyond a contract adjustment. Here's the skinny:
"The situation with All-Por DT Dexter Lawrence is not in a good place and has not been for a while," Schultz posted on Twitter. "While money is a big part of it, another element is that Lawrence has seen many players leave the organization over the years. He's stayed quiet, been a good soldier, and tried to be a team guy."
Schultz continued, So when it became clear last year that he had outplayed his contract and it was time for a new deal, the organization not taking it seriously felt like a slap in the face. That has continued this offseason."
Not long after Schultz first broke the news, Jordan Raanan of ESPN stated that Lawrence wants out, noting that the three-time Pro Bowl nod has been looking for a fresh start dating back to the start of last year.
The G-Men, for their part, don't want to give Lawrence a new deal after his underwhelming 2025, according to Raanan. On top of that, they would want substantial compensation in a trade. Couple that with the fact that Dex is scheduled to make $20 million in 2026 but is looking for $26 million or more per year, and the Jags will definitely rule out a trade.
In Jacksonville, Lawrence would join a group that already includes Arik Armstead, DaVon Hamilton, and Maason Smith. With him in the mix, the interior defensive line would go from average to pretty dominant.
Why the latest Dexter Lawrence update may turn off the Jaguars for good
If all it took to trade for Dexter Lawrence were a second-round round pick, as Jordan Raanan had previously stated, the Jaguars should definitely consider getting a deal done. But if the Giants are looking for a first, AND Jacksonville has to pay him more than $26 million per year, they're better off drafting a young defensive tackle.
Sure, Lawrence is a game-wrecker, but he's coming off a down year, and at 29, it's hard to tell if he'll bounce back. Couple that with the fact that the Jags would have to pay a premium for him, and they're better off trying to jump into the first round to nab Kayden McDonald.
Of course, if Jacksonville is confident that Lawrence's underwhelming 2025 was an outlier, and he can return to form, nobody would bat an eye if general manager James Gladstone made a push for him.
Just recently, John Shipley of Sports Illustrated suggested that if the Jags want to get a deal done, it will have to be before or during the draft, as Giants general manager Joe Schoen could use whatever compensation he gets to try to win games now.
The truth is that it made sense for the Jaguars to trade for Dexter Lawrence at the right price. But based on the most recent scoop, it looks like acquiring him would cost more than they
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