The 2026 NFL Draft just isn’t for just a few extra days.
However a seismic commerce has simply shaken up the primary spherical.
The New York Giants have agreed to commerce defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals in alternate for the tenth-overall choice within the 2026 NFL Draft. After Lawrence and the Giants reached an deadlock in contract negotiations, the standout defender requested for a commerce, and New York has determined to maneuver him to the Bengals, getting the tenth-overall decide in return.
Now the Giants have two picks inside the highest ten subsequent week (No. 5 and No. 10) whereas the Bengals have one other massive addition to their defensive entrance.
Let’s hand out some grades.
New York Giants grade for Dexter Lawrence commerce
When negotiations between the Giants and Lawrence stalled, it was believed that the standout defensive lineman would fetch a late first-round choice in a commerce.
As a substitute, Joe Schoen and the Giants have acquired the tenth-overall decide within the upcoming NFL Draft, and now the Giants have a pair of picks inside the highest ten to work with. The Giants will likely be on the clock at No. 5, and once more at No. 10.
This offers Schoen and the Giants a ton of flexibility subsequent week. They will nonetheless add a premium defender inside the highest ten — as many believed the Giants had been going to do forward of the Lawrence deal — they usually also can deal with their offensive line, or add a weapon for Jaxson Dart within the passing recreation, with a decide inside the highest ten.
As famous by Peter Schrager, the Giants’ brass spent the previous few days in Arizona assembly with Arizona State extensive receiver Jordyn Tyson forward of the non-public exercise he held with NFL groups:
New York might use that tenth decide on Tyson now.
Both approach, this transfer not solely sees the Giants get an enormous return for a participant that needed out, however now they’ve two picks inside the highest ten … and quite a lot of flexibility.
Cincinnati Bengals grade for Dexter Lawrence commerce
Sitting at No. 10 within the 2026 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals had been in place so as to add a possible premium defender subsequent week.
By utilizing that commerce on Lawrence, they assured themselves a premium defender.
That is an aggressive transfer by the Bengals, however it matches with the staff’s “win-now” mentality and in addition matches with different offseason acquisitions. Cincinnati already added Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe, and Bryan Cook dinner to their protection this offseason, By including Lawrence as properly, the Bengals have vastly improved that facet of the ball, not less than on paper.
So sure, now the Bengals can’t add a top-flight rookie defender on this spot. However they get a confirmed, elite defender in Lawrence and proceed the enhancements on that facet of the ball.
The participant they might have drafted at No. 10 might become elite.
