According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, “it’s believed that the failed Maxx Crosby trade was a significant factor in getting the deal done early. As one source put it, both teams were concerned about Lawrence passing a physical. Pre-Crosby, that would have been less of a concern.”

For instance, this trade could’ve been similar to the AJ Brown trade in the 2022 Draft. However, the fear of not passing the physical test was bigger than the opportunity to get the most out of the trade.

The Bengals made the right move

Not only were the Bengals needing a guy like Dexter Lawrence on defense, but there were no players that are such a guaranteed force in defense like Lawrence. Hence, this was the best-case scenario for them.

Contrary to the Crosby situation, where the Ravens pivoted to Trey Hendrickson, there was no plan B for the Bengals. If they didn’t land Lawrence, they would’ve likely used their 10th pick and roll the dice on a rookie. Last season, their first pick was DE Shemar Stewart, and that ended up being a mess from the get-go.

The NY Giants still got a good return

The Giants used the 10th pick given by the Bengals to selece Francis Mauigoa, who could perfectly be a rock solid left tackle for the team, barring any injury setbacks. Mauigoa has a disc injury, but the Giants were comfortably fine picking him either way.

For the first time in almost 40 years, the Cincinnati Bengals are without a first-round pick in the NFL Draft, 37 years to be precise. After a one-for-one swap of the Giants’ Dexter Lawrence for the Bengals No. 10 overall pick, Cincinnati is now in possession of a three-time Pro Bowler.

The Bengals trust in a resurgence from Lawrence after a disappointing 2025 season with New York. Perhaps a change of scenery and conference helps the defensive tackle return to being a defensive threat.

A rare situation for the Bengals

Being without a first-round pick should come as a weird sight for Bengals fans. The Cincinnati franchise has had a Round 1 pick in every draft since 1989, according to Pro Football Reference.

A large portion of the Bengals first round picks, except Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, have been swing and misses. Now, the franchise will be without a decision to make on Day 1 of the 2026 Draft, barring a trade.

Cincinnati will make its first selection at No. 41 in the second round. The team has found some success in recent second rounds, such as the 2022 Draft. That year, the Bengals selected Tee Higgins at No. 33, and he signed a four-year, $115 million extension with the team in March 2025.

What are the Bengals draft picks?

The Bengals may be among the teams without a first-round pick in 2026, but they still have seven selections to make in the 2026 Draft:

However, it’s the first round the one that matters the most. All top-tier talent is usually gone after the first 32 picks. This year, though, there are six teams that have no first-round picks. Each time will have different picks but the same time to select in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts, Green Bay Packers, Denver Broncos, and Cincinnati Bengals have no first round picks in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. Conversely, this means there are teams with multiple first-round picks.

Why do these teams have no first-round picks?

The Jaguars traded their 2026 first-rounder to the Cleveland Browns in a 2025 draft deal to move up to pick Travis Hunter. The Falcons traded their pick to the Los Angeles Rams as part of a package for a 2025 first-round used in OLB James Pearce Jr.

The Packers traded away their pick as a part of the Micah Parsons deal. The Colts traded their first-rounder to acquire Sauce Gardner. As for the Broncos, their first pick was traded to the Dolphins for WR Jaylen Waddle. Lastly, the Bengals traded their 10th overall pick to the Giants to acquire Dexter Lawrence.

Can these teams still have something to say?

Not having picks doesn’t mean that these six teams won’t play a part. It’s been heavily rumored that the 2026 NFL Draft will feature plenty of trades. Hence, don’t discard any of these teams jumping in and being a part of draft day if they see the opportunity to enhance their roster.

“They wanted me here and they appreciated the work that I’ve put in over the last seven seasons. … I’ve got a fire in me that I’ve never had before,” the experienced nose tackle revealed via @Bengals.

Talent, experience, leadership, and now that inner fire that could elevate him to give his best. Clearly, the Bengals have acquired one of the best versions of Lawrence in his career. Can he prove it on the field?

In Cincinnati through 2028

Following the important move that sent the Pro Bowl defensive tackle to Cincinnati in exchange for the No. 10 overall pick, the team moved quickly to secure his future. Including the new one-year, $28 million extension he signed upon arrival, Dexter Lawrence will earn after NY Giants trade with Bengals a total of approximately $70 million over the next three seasons.

This lucrative deal, which keeps him under contract through 2028, includes a $10 million signing bonus and positions him as one of the highest-paid interior defenders in the league as he joins Zac Taylor’s defensive front.

What Bengals still need to become true contenders?

To become true contenders in 2026, the Cincinnati Bengals must finalize their defensive overhaul. While the blockbuster acquisition of Dexter Lawrence solves their massive hole at nose tackle, the team still lacks elite pass-rushing depth and a lockdown presence in the secondary.

To maximize Joe Burrow’s window, the Bengals need talented players who can prevent the explosive plays that plagued them last season. While Arvell Reese, David Bailey, and Rueben Bain Jr. are among the top prospects at this position, it will be difficult for them to be available at the 41st overall pick, when the Bengals will make their first selection in the upcoming NFL draft.

“We are excited to add Dexter to our team,” the head coach said via nbcsports.com. “He has been a dominant player in the league since he was drafted, and he will be a tremendous presence on the field and in our locker room.”

The Bengals also announced that the former Giants player has signed a one-year $28 million contract extension, which keeps him under contract through 2028. One of the pre-draft storylines has come to an end with Lawrence landing in the AFC North.

Bengals front office supports Taylor’s comments

The excitement overflowing at the Bengals’ facilities following Dexter Lawrence’s arrival goes beyond Zac Taylor’s staff. Adding one of the most dominant defensive players in the NFL was an opportunity they couldn’t pass up.

“The opportunity to add a player of Dexter’s ability was too good to pass up thanks to the commitment by Mr. Brown, Katie Blackburn, Troy Blackburn, Paul Brown, and our player personnel staff,” Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin.

“Dexter fits the vision we have on our defense and will also elevate others around him. We are confident in Dexter and can’t wait to see the positive effects he and the other players we have acquired this offseason have on our football team. We are excited to turn to the draft and our remaining picks to further enhance our team.”

Lawrence’s leadership

During his final season with the Giants in 2025, Dexter Lawrence remained a force on the interior, recording 31 total tackles, 0.5 sacks, and a career-high 4 passes defended, while also securing his first career interception. His arrival provides Zac Taylor’s defense with an elite, durable anchor who can collapse the pocket and elevate the performance of those around him, instantly turning the Bengals’ defensive front into one of the most formidable units in the league.

When will the Bengals make their picks?

Cincinnati will have seven opportunities to strengthen its roster with young talent after sending its first-round pick to East Rutherford. These are the picks the Bengals will have available in the upcoming draft.

• Round 2: No. 41
• Round 3: No. 72
• Round 4: No. 110
• Round 6: No. 189
• Round 6: No. 199
• Round 7: No. 221
• Round 7: No. 226

As part of the agreement, Lawrence is not only changing teams but also securing a new extension that reflects his value in Cincinnati’s defensive plans. The move signals a clear commitment from the Bengals, who are pairing a premium draft investment with long-term financial stability for one of the league’s top interior defenders.

These are the numbers according to Adam Schefter. “Compensation update: Now that he has passed his physical and the trade is official, newly-acquired DT Dexter Lawerence is signing a one-year, $28 million contract extension with the Bengals. So in the end, Lawrence gets the trade he wanted while being contractually tied to Cincinnati for the next three seasons.”

How much money will Dexter Lawrence make with Bengals in salary?

Before the trade, Dexter Lawrence was still under his previous contract, which kept him under team control through the 2027 season. That deal had him locked in for the near future, but without the updated financial terms he was reportedly seeking.

With this new extension, the timeline shifts. The one-year, $28 million addition effectively adjusts his compensation structure heading into the 2028 season, while extending his financial commitment in Cincinnati for multiple years beyond his original deal.

In practical terms, the Bengals are not just acquiring Lawrence, they are immediately resetting his salary profile to reflect his market value. For Cincinnati, it is a win-now move backed by financial conviction, and for Lawrence, it is the resolution of a contract standoff that ultimately delivered both a new team and a new payday.

The move comes after weeks of speculation surrounding Lawrence’s future, with contract tensions and trade rumors building steadily. While the Giants were initially reluctant to part ways with their star defensive tackle, an unexpected offer from Cincinnati ultimately changed the equation and pushed negotiations across the finish line.

According to Jordan Raanan, the deal came as a surprise for the Giants. “Dexter Lawrence was open to a fresh start dating back to the beginning of last year, per sources. The Giants didn’t want to trade him. They also didn’t expect to get offered a Top 10 pick. That surprised even them and here we are.”

Why did the Giants trade Dexter Lawrence?

The Giants traded Dexter Lawrence because of value in return and a complicated contract dispute. While the defensive tackle remained a highly respected presence on and off the field, the combination of his contract situation and the unexpected availability of a top-10 pick created a rare opportunity for the front office. In the end, general manager Joe Schoen wasn’t going to pay him $30 million per year.

For the Bengals, the move signals an aggressive push to strengthen their defensive interior, betting that Lawrence can immediately transform their front seven. It’s important to remember that Cincinnati lost Trey Hendrickson. Meanwhile, for the Giants, it represents a pivot toward flexibility, draft capital, and a potential reset of their defensive identity.

Ultimately, this is a trade driven by timing as much as talent. Few expected Lawrence to be available, and even fewer expected a top-10 pick to be on the table. But once both aligned, the deal became too significant for New York to ignore.

On Saturday, following a long contract dispute, the Giants sent Dexter Lawrence to Cincinnati, as reported by Jordan Raanan. In exchange, Big Blue received the Bengals’ first-round pick in the upcoming draft.

The trade marks a significant shift for the Giants under new head coach John Harbaugh. Lawrence, who had requested a move after contract extension talks reached an impasse, was the cornerstone of the defensive line for seven seasons.

NY Giants’ picks in the 2026 NFL Draft after the Dexter Lawrence trade

The Giants now hold two first-round picks in the 2026 draft. New York has acquired the 10th overall pick from the Bengals, adding a second top-10 selection to their arsenal for the event that begins next Thursday in Pittsburgh.

• No. 5 overall
• No. 10 overall
• No. 37 overall
• No. 105 overall
• No. 145 overall
• No. 186 overall
• No. 192 overall
• No. 193 overall

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Dexter Lawrence must still pass a physical and finalize a contract with the Bengals for the move to be completed. However, reports suggest the defensive star is already on good terms with Cincinnati’s front office regarding a new deal.

In recent days, Dexter Lawrence officially asked the Giants for a trade. The club is reportedly not interested in letting him go, with even head coach John Harbaugh pushing hard for NY to keep him.

Nevertheless, clubs are following his situation closely, and the NY Giants could receive an offer too good to resist from the Bengals, who seem to be very interested in the defensive tackle.

Orlando Brown praises Dexter Lawrence, asks Bengals to go for him

One of the teams most linked to Lawrence is Cincinnati. According to reports, the Bengals “started their engines” when the trade request emerged, and even their players are trying to convince the defensive star to join their cause.

Orlando Brown, left tackle for the Bengals, has now praised Dexter Lawrence. He said that Lawrence’s talent is impressive and directly stated that he would look very good in a Bengals uniform.

“Dexter Lawrence is a baller,” Brown said during an appearance on Up & Adams. “I think he’d be even more of a baller in orange and black. I don’t know how that kind of stuff goes necessarily, I don’t have all the answers.”

Dexter Lawrence may be using his request as leverage

According to reports, Lawrence’s trade request to the NY Giants could turn out to be a false alarm. He may be using his petition as leverage, which rumors suggest should definitely work.

Lawrence is a top defensive tackle, and Harbaugh has stated that he wants to keep him on the roster. For that reason, he could be using this as leverage only to get a better contract from the Giants this offseason.

Rumors even state that the Chiefs could eye a trade in the 2026 NFL Draft to land Rueben Bain. That’s how much interest he is gathering. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Bengals are hosting Bain on Friday.

The Giants have the 5th pick, while Chiefs are ninth. The Bengals have the 10th overall pick, so it’s a tricky situation for them if they want to land the pass-rusher. Considering the Chiefs could even trade up, the Bengals must do the same apparently.

Bain has one key problem, but plenty of upside

Bain had 9.5 sacks with 15.5 tackles for loss and an interception last season for the Miami Hurricanes. He has the speed, the brute strength and cleverness to create harm against the tackles. He was a menace at the collegiate level.

However, as Warren Sharp pointed out, Bain “will have the shortest arms (30 7/8″) for a 1st round pick at EDGE in the last 20 years.” No player with arms shorter than 31″ has had a double-digit-sack season for the last two decades.

It looks like Bain is a lock to be a top 10 pick

With all these visits and stock just getting up, it’s almost a certainty that Bain will go during the first 10 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft. Bain’s season and helping the Hurricanes go all the way to the National Championship game has made him a name to follow.

Although the Giants want to keep Lawrence, Harbaugh has left the door open on potential Dexter Lawrence and Kayvon Thibodeaux trades. That door that was left ajar may be flung wide open as Cincinnati could put together a trade package the Giants can’t resist.

According to New York Post reporter Adam Schein, the Bengals could offer their second and third-round selections (41st and 72nd overall) in the upcoming NFL Draft in exchange for Lawrence. “I would pay [Lawrence], but [the Giants] have to balance everything here. Including that Cincinnati [Bengals] package,” Schein commented.

Why such a trade package makes sense for Giants

Such a trade package from the Bengals would also be aligned with the Giants’ reported asking price for Lawrence. New York could be asking for a late first-rounder or a second-round selection. If the G-Men can get a second, as well as a third, it may be enough to convince them to pull the trigger on a Lawrence trade. As it stands, though, the Giants are far from sold on shipping their star nose tackle away.

Harbaugh stated he wants to keep Lawrence, and he believes Lawrence wants to stay in New York, as well. The 63-year-old knows his way around the NFL—this isn’t his first rodeo—and he knows how Lawrence may be using the trade request to gain leverage in contract negotiations. At the end of the day, words are like wind, and what Lawrence says in April can be easily forgotten come September if the two sides agree on a restructured deal..

Cincinnati’s perspective

If it comes down to it, then Cincinnati may have the best offer on the table for New York. Still, other reports also hint it may be the Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears who have the advantage, because they have late first-round picks available to trade. Cincinnati, on the other hand, drafts 10th overall in the 2026 draft, and all signs indicate the Bengals aren’t sending that first-round selection anywhere.

The organization in the Queen City has enough areas to address that it can’t afford to miss out on such a high draft pick. Lawrence could provide the Bengals with the perfect player to aid their struggling defensive line, especially after Trey Hendrickson left for their rivals, the Baltimore Ravens. Lawrence would become an instant staple for Cincinnati’s defense and the best interior D-lineman in the Queen City since Geno Atkins.

Still, if the Bengals look to simply trade for Lawrence—keeping him under the same contract he has with the New York Giants—they could only be setting themselves up for a headache in the long run, with the nose tackle likely to demand a new deal in Cincy, just as he did in the Big Apple.