Dexter Lawrence Reportedly Disgruntled Over Giants Contract Status; Requests Trade

All-Pro DT Dexter Lawrence has requested a trade from the New York Giants and will skip the 2026 offseason program.

New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II has reportedly asked for a trade. | Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The New York Giants are set to begin their off-season program on Tuesday, but it looks like a key member of the team, defensive co-captain Dexter Lawrence II, will be sitting this one out.

Lawrence, according to a report by ESPN insider Adam Schefter, has grown frustrated with the lack of progress on negotiating a new contract that reflects his worth with the Giants, who made him one of their three first-round picks back in 2019.

Lawrence currently has two years remaining on the four-year, $90 million extension he signed in May 2024. However, he no longer has any guaranteed money owed to him starting this year, and his APY of $22.5 million has dropped him out of the top-10 highest-paid interior defensive linemen, to the 11th spot per Over the Cap.

Lawrence has made little attempt of late to hide his frustration with how the Giants’ seasons have gone since he’s been a part of the team. New York has had only one winning season, that in 2022, during Lawrence’s tenure with the team.

The two-time second-team All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler also grew frustrated last season in his attempt to come back from a season-ending elbow injury suffered the year prior.

Lawrence, who had posted 9.5 sacks in 2024 before his season was cut short, only managed to record 0.5 sacks last season, raising constant questions as to whether he was fully healthy, with Lawrence denying he was dealing with any sort of physical impediment.

The 28-year-old Lawrence has also reportedly requested a trade after remaining mum on his future during his last media sessions with the Giants reporters toward the end of the season.

Lawrence has appeared in 109 games for the Giants with 102 starts. He has 30.5 career sacks, 341 total tackles, 103 quarterback hits, and 40 career tackles for loss.

Lawrence has long been viewed as the centerpiece of the Giants' defensive front and has been in the discussion for the best interior defensive lineman in the league following the retirement a couple of years ago of Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams.

General manager Joe Schoen was asked during the league meetings about Lawrence’s immediate future. He said that the plan was for Lawrence to be part of the team.

It was further revealed that the Giants received trade inquiries about Lawrence at last year’s trade deadline, but rebuked those inquiries, believing that Lawrence was still very much a part of their future.

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