Joe Goodberry of the Locked On Bengals podcast spoke to Ari Meirov about Lawrence’s impact. “He [Dexter Lawrence] has been the best player in camp. He has been absolutely destroying them… He really looks like he’s back to the 2022/2023 dominant player.”

That is frightening news for the rest of the NFL. The Bengals always had huge offensive firepower, but lacked defense. Now, Lawrence could be the one piece that puts them over the hump. Fully healthy and in form, Lawrence can be a Defensive Player of the Year contender.

Why the Giants could miss Lawrence?

Lawrence was disgruntled and asked to be traded. Now, the Giants received a top 10 pick in the NFL Draft which is a great price. They used it to select Offensive Tackle Francis Mauigoa. However, they could still miss Dexter Lawrence quite a lot.

The Giants’ revamped defensive front faces a steep drop-off in interior pressure and run-stopping capability following his departure. Also, pass rusher Brian Burns said the defense “ain’t the Giants without No. 97,” making note of how important Lawrence’s interior pressure was for the G-Men.

Why Lawrence could solve all Bengals’ defensive woes?

Lawrence will be anchoring the interior defensive line with elite run-stopping power and constant pass rush. His massive 340-pound presence eats up multiple blockers, fixing a glaring rush defense weakness that struggled heavily last season.

“Honestly, he’s been terrorizing practice,” the talented wide receiver told Yahoo Sports. “I can honestly say that.” The first padded practice of the 2026 training camp is starting to heat things up for the Bengals.

Lawrence, who managed to take down Dalton Risner during practice, has taken his role on this team seriously: “Sometimes you got to assert yourself and let guys know who you are,” the nose tackle said. “It ain’t going to stop.”

The Bengals’ defensive leap

The acquisition of nose tackle Dexter Lawrence represents a massive leap in quality for the Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive front. Coming off a 2025 season with the New York Giants where he started all 17 games, recording 31 tackles (14 solo), four tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, four pass deflections, and one interception, Lawrence brings elite interior power, double-team gravity, and disruptive run defense.

His presence elevates the entire unit, slotting in alongside veteran tackle Jonathan Allen (acquired from the Vikings), high-upside edge rusher Myles Murphy, and newly added pass rusher Boye Mafe (arrived from the Seahawks) to form a formidable, high-impact defensive line.

Cincinnati aims to improve last season’s numbers

After finishing third in the AFC North with a disappointing 6–11 record, the Bengals enter the upcoming season determined to overhaul a defense that heavily compromised their performance. In 2025, Cincinnati ranked among the league’s worst defensive units, surrendering 492 total points (28.9 points per game, 30th in the NFL) and allowing 6,475 total yards along with 49 touchdowns.

Opponents also converted on 43.4% of third downs and 70.0% of fourth downs against them. Rebuilding this side of the ball will be the top priority as the Bengals aim to turn these bottom-tier metrics around and compete for the division title once again.

Therefore, the fit simply makes perfect sense. Obviously, the Giants would have to part with significant assets to strike a deal with the Buccaneers, but the door is open.

Moreover, New York would have to foot the bill for at least a large portion of Vea’s salary in the 2026 NFL season, while also absorbing his cap hit. There are certainly hurdles standing in the way, but when the reward is arguably the best possible replacement for Lawrence, it could all be worth it.

“You have a quarterback on a rookie contract. This is the period of time you’re supposed to swing trades for 31 year old Pro Bowl defensive tackles looking for one last pay day. Vita Vea to the Giants makes too much sense,” Shaun Morash of Talkin’ Giants posted on his X account.

Why Vea could be perfect addition

Speaking of the best nose tackles in the NFL, it’s impossible not to mention Vea and Lawrence. So, after the latter asked out of New York and joined the Cincinnati Bengals, what better way to fill that void than by bringing in the player he has so often been compared to?

Indeed, the G-Men have been busy this offseason. They added several pieces to the interior of the defensive line in an attempt to make up for Lawrence’s glaring absence, but they could still find room for Vea alongside newly arrived D.J. Reader and Shelby Harris.

Moreover, as Morash pointed out, the Giants have Dart under a rookie contract through the 2028 NFL season and can exercise his fifth-year option for 2029. If there has ever been a time for Big Blue to go all in on a move for a veteran Pro Bowler, it’s now.

NY Giants can make it happen

Vea wants to get paid, and New York can foot the bill. Whether Vea wants to join the Giants, though, is a different question. Some reports indicate that he would like to return to his home state of California—or at least be closer to his roots on the West Coast.

Still, if there’s one place in the world that can make players overlook homesickness, it’s New York City. Plus, Vea’s contract has no trade clauses working in his favor to steer his way to his preferred destination.

At the end of the day, if Tampa Bay trades him, it will likely be to the highest bidder, and that could very well be New York if the Giants are truly interested in adding a 6-foot-4, 347-pound force to the interior of their defensive line.

As reported by Dan Duggan of The Athletic, neither D.J. Reader, Shelby Harris, nor Sam Roberts was spotted on the practice field for the Giants. All three defensive linemen were signed during the offseason ahead of the 2026 NFL campaign.

While Roberts was signed in March, both Harris and Reader were brought into East Rutherford after New York traded Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals. Still, neither was in action on Thursday, meaning John Harbaugh and the rest of his staff are still somewhat in the dark about them. In addition to these absentees, the fact that the Giants are facing early injury concerns in the DL room is far from encouraging.

Why were they absent?

Roberts is still recovering from offseason surgery and has yet to be cleared to return to the practice field. Needless to say, the Giants will not rush him back and are taking every precaution.

As for Reader and Harris, neither is listed with an injury, and their absence from OTAs is seemingly a decision between them and the coaches. It is not rare—in fact, it is quite common—for veterans to opt out of voluntary workouts.

Considering both Harris and Reader are new players joining the club, some may argue they are better off practicing with the team and getting early reps with the new coaching staff and teammates. However, it is a very long year, and veterans like them may have more to lose than to gain by stepping into the trenches in May.

Giants stay patient

The Giants should know better than to start second-guessing Harbaugh’s decisions right from the get-go, especially during OTAs. Right now, these practices are all fans and media have, but they will become a distant, irrelevant memory once the actual NFL season rolls around.

Still, those who wanted an early peek at the revamped defensive line without Lawrence—and with his replacements—instead got to see a unit that looked quite similar to its 2025 version, aside from a fair share of rookies and free-agency additions here and there.

“[Lawrence] is not here, that’s OK. He’s got a life to live. We brought in guys who wanted to be here,” Harbaugh stated, via Ryan Dunleavy and Art Stapleton. “We are on these green-grass fields playing football! Where else would you rather be than here right now?”

Harbaugh’s message may have provided the perfect combination for Giants fans. Most remain upset about Lawrence’s exit, feeling somewhat betrayed by the nose tackle. However, they have bigger fish to fry in the 2026 NFL season than to remain resentful toward a former player who helped the team so much in the past. It’s all about moving on.

The new head coach’s statement may have captured that mix of letting go and a bit of pettiness perfectly. Just because the Giants are off to new challenges doesn’t mean they will let others off the hook that easily.

Giants replaced Lawrence

Although there may be no NFL player as skilled at the nose tackle position as Lawrence, New York left no stone unturned in their quest to fill the void left by the veteran’s departure. As a result, Harbaugh and company brought in several defensive tackles capable of handling different roles depending on what the coaching staff needs.

The Giants signed veteran presences in D.J. Reader and Shelby Harris, while also acquiring defensive linemen with a chip on their shoulder like Zacch Pickens and Leki Fotu. Moreover, the Big Blue drafted Bobby Jamison-Travis and signed UDFAs Ben Barten and Anquin Barnes.

All in all, the youth and veterans combination could be one that pays dividends for the G-Men. Moving on from Lawrence was never going to be easy, but they had little choice. Trading him for the No. 10 pick in this year’s draft—which turned into Francis Mauigoa—certainly makes the decision easier to live with.

“That’s how I’m kinda looking at it,’’ Burns said Tuesday night via the New York Post. “It’s kind of a nod to what I’ve done and the success that I’ve had, but I don’t take that lightly at all, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity.’’

Although Burns knows he will have a more prominent leadership role in the Giants’ locker room, he is also aware that it will not be just another season without Lawrence on the roster.

“Man, I’ve been in this league long enough to understand ‘next man up’ whenever somebody leaves,’’ he said. “I was just really going to bat for my teammate. He made a decision. It already happened. We kinda got to live with it. Of course I don’t want to play without him because that’s my friend, along with he’s a great player, but we got some things out of it, and we just got to move on.’’

Burns takes the torch from Lawrence

Since arriving at East Rutherford from the Panthers in 2024, Brian Burns has rapidly evolved into the emotional and physical heartbeat of the Giants’ defense. Now serving as a team captain, Burns has set the standard for the Harbaugh-era grit by leading through high-motor effort—highlighted by a famous training camp pursuit that solidified his status as the unit’s vocal leader.

His 2025 campaign was nothing short of historic, as he earned Second-Team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl nod after racking up a career-high 16.5 sacks, which tied for the fourth-most in a single season in franchise history. Beyond just rushing the passer, Burns dominated the stat sheet with 67 total tackles, 22 tackles for loss, and 31 quarterback hits, proving to be a relentless force that stabilizes the edge while mentoring the younger core of the rebuilding roster.

The ideal replacement for Lawrence

After requesting a trade from the franchise, the G-Men finally reached an agreement with the Cincinnati Bengals to send Dexter Lawrence to the AFC North. The dilemma from that point on would be how to replace one of the best nose tackles in the league.

Far from dwelling on the loss of one of their historic players, the Giants agreed to bring in D.J. Reader to fill that position. Why was this move important? John Harbaugh’s core principle is that his teams be as physical as possible.

Meanwhile, as the first moves from each team begin to take shape, there is excitement in New York about what is coming. New acquisitions such as the aforementioned Reader and Tremaine Edmunds, as well as the selection of young talent like Arvell Reese and Francis Mauigoa, point to an elite defense that aims to make a statement in the NFC East.

Following Lawrence’s departure, many around the league questioned whether the Giants had weakened one of the most important areas of the roster. Instead of making one massive replacement move, New York responded by aggressively rebuilding the room with multiple veterans and young pieces.

Now, after the arrivals of DJ Reader, Shelby Harris and Zacch Pickens, Harbaugh believes the Giants may finally have the defensive front they were searching for. “I’m very happy about it. I felt like it was part of our process. It’s not that we wouldn’t have drafted a defensive tackle or signed one sooner if they’d become available or keep Dexter if that was something we could do. Those were all things that were on the table. But as it went, I thought we did a good job of responding to the situation as it unfolded.”

Giants believe defensive line rebuild is finally complete

John Harbaugh’s comments reveal just how much thought went into reshaping the defensive front after losing one of the franchise’s biggest stars. “Now we feel really good about our group in there. Our room looks good to me. I’m excited about it. I think we’ve got the guys we need.”

Rather than panicking after the Lawrence trade, the Giants appeared determined to build a deeper and more balanced defensive line rotation capable of sustaining physicality throughout the season.

DJ Reader quickly became the centerpiece of that strategy. The veteran defensive tackle arrives with years of experience and is expected to become one of the leaders of the unit immediately.

Meanwhile, Shelby Harris adds another proven veteran presence, while Zacch Pickens gives the team developmental upside and rotational depth moving forward.

Giants continue building defense around physical identity

The defensive overhaul also reflects the broader identity Harbaugh appears to be building in New York. Although much of the attention remains focused on young offensive stars like Jaxson Dart and Malik Nabers, the Giants have quietly invested enormous resources into strengthening the defense throughout the offseason.

That includes reinforcing the defensive line, upgrading the secondary and adding more pass-rush depth through players like rookie Arvell Reese. For Harbaugh, the formula appears clear: if the Giants are going to become legitimate Super Bowl contenders again, the defense must return to being one of the toughest and most physical units in the NFC.

The Giants announced that defensive linemen Elijah Chatman and Marlon Tuipulotu have been released. The move made sense, as New York currently employs a surplus of defensive ends and tackles. Since moving on from Lawrence, the G-Men have gone on a shopping spree in an effort to make up for the loss of their star defender.

Now, the Giants were left with little choice but to trim some of that depth. As a result, Chatman and Tuipulotu are now free agents. The former’s release had been reported and was somewhat expected, while the latter had signed a reserve/future contract with New York back in January.

NY Giants’ depth on defensive line

As it stands, the Giants have 10 defensive linemen under contract. Since Harbaugh tends to favor a 3-4 scheme, that means New York could put together 120 different combinations along the defensive line. Talk about keeping opponents on their toes. However, Big Blue won’t carry this current group into the campaign—more moves are expected before the 2026 NFL season.

For the time being, though, the G-Men boast the following options: D.J. Reader, Shelby Harris, and Leki Fotu, all of whom were signed shortly after New York traded Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals. The defensive line room is rounded out by Roy Robertson-Harris, Darius Alexander, Bobby Jamison-Travis, Sam Roberts, Zacch Pickens, Anquin Barnes Jr., and Ben Barten.

Giants’ offseason keeps up the pace

What starts hectic often ends the same way. The Giants’ preparation for the 2026 NFL season probably won’t be an exception. More likely than not, the releases of Chatman and Tuipulotu won’t be the final moves of a busy offseason in East Rutherford.

The move represents one of the Giants’ clearest responses following the blockbuster decision to trade Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals. Replacing a player of Lawrence’s caliber was never going to come down to a single addition, but Reader immediately becomes the centerpiece of New York’s effort to stabilize the middle of the defensive line.

Reader also headlines a broader wave of veteran reinforcements added by the Giants this offseason. Alongside names like Shelby Harris and Zacch Pickens, they have focused heavily on rebuilding toughness and depth in the trenches, signaling a major defensive reset under John Harbaugh and Joe Schoen.

How much money will DJ Reader earn with Giants?

The Giants backed that vision financially by signing DJ Reader to a two-year contract worth $12.5 million. With incentives included, the deal could rise to as much as $15.5 million, underscoring how important they view his presence on the interior defensive front.

Reader arrives in New York with extensive NFL experience and a reputation as one of the league’s most dependable run-stopping defensive tackles. His career has included stops with the Houston Texans from 2016 to 2019, the Cincinnati Bengals from 2020 to 2023 and the Detroit Lions during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

More importantly, he fills a role the Giants desperately needed to address after moving on from Lawrence. Reader may not bring the same star profile, but his physicality, experience and leadership make him a critical piece for a defense trying to rediscover its identity. For New York, this signing is not just about adding depth, it is about restoring stability at the heart of the defensive line.

“It doesn’t figure that there will be a place for a 5-foot-10, 280-pound defensive tackle who doesn’t hold up well against the run because of his size. Chatman has been a nice story for the Giants, but his time might be up,” as stated by Ed Valentine of Big Blue View.

This report may include a hyperbole, as ESPN lists Chatman at 6-foot. Regardless of the inches’ difference, his impact on the Giants‘ defensive line has been minimal, and it’s not ridiculous to believe he could be cut before John Harbaugh and company put together the 53-men roster for the 2026 NFL campaign.

Chatman’s stats with NY Giants

The Giants’ projected starting defense for 2026 is one that sends chills down the spine of every offensive coordinator. The beleaguered unit may finally find some stability in the Big Apple. However, Chatman may not be part of the picture.

Through 22 games with the New York Giants (17 in the 2024 NFL season and five in the 2025 campaign), Chatman has recorded 24 total tackles (12 assisted and 12 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and a fumble recovery.

However, his most encouraging numbers came during his first year in East Rutherford. In 2025, his already limited role was further reduced, and as a result, his numbers were far from jumping off the page.

More about Chatman

Chatman spent five years at the collegiate level, playing for the SMU Mustangs. He appeared in 60 games during his NCAA career, recording 98 solo tackles (148 combined), 34 tackles for loss, and 13.5 sacks.

Chatman went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft. New York signed him as a UDFA, but it hasn’t panned out. Chatman is signed through the 2026 campaign, but with a cap hit of $1.075 million, it’s not as though that would stop New York from parting ways with him.

Instead, the front office has taken an aggressive, volume-based approach, reshaping the entire unit through a combination of draft picks, free-agent signings, and undrafted additions.

According to Dan Duggan, the scale of that effort is striking. “Since Day 3 of the draft, the Giants have added seven defensive tackles: Zacch Pickens, DJ Reader, Shelby Harris, Leki Fotu, Bobby Jamison-Travis, Ben Barten (UDFA) and Anquin Barnes (UDFA).”

Giants go all-in on defensive line rebuild ahead of 2026 season

That level of activity isn’t accidental. It’s a direct response to one of the biggest roster changes of the offseason. Losing a cornerstone like Dexter Lawrence forced the Giants to rethink their identity up front, and every recent move has reflected that urgency.

The additions span the full spectrum. Proven veterans like D.J. Reader and Shelby Harris bring experience and stability, while players like Leki Fotu offer rotational depth.

At the same time, younger and less proven names such as Bobby Jamison-Travis, Ben Barten, and Anquin Barnes represent developmental bets who could grow into larger roles. Even the inclusion of Pickens shows the Giants’ intent to build both for the present and the future.

The approach is clear: volume and competition. Rather than relying on a single replacement for Lawrence, the Giants are constructing an entire unit capable of collectively filling that gap.

Whether that strategy pays off will depend on how quickly the group gels and whether any of the additions can elevate beyond their expected roles. But one thing is certain, the Giants are not leaving the defensive line to chance. They’ve made it the focal point of their offseason, and the results will define the next phase of the team’s identity.