It felt like the last major trade buzz was over after the Maxx Crosby saga ended in the bizarre way it did. However, this is the NFL. Things go from zero to crazy all the time in this league. Sure enough, news hit last week that star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence wants an updated contract from the New York Giants after feeling he outplayed his current one. The problem is he has two years left on his deal, and the Giants aren’t keen to give him a raise. At least not one, according to his rumored $30 million-per-year demands.
However, it isn’t just about the money. There are hurt feelings on both sides, mostly from Lawrence. He feels the organization isn’t respecting his contributions to the team, despite the fact that it was terrible for the majority of his career there. According to Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post, it has reached the point where he just wants to start over somewhere else.
He wants out.
His desire for a new contract from the only NFL team he has ever played for resulted in talks but nothing substantial from a financial standpoint. And now, he wants to turn the page and move on.
It is past the point of any further negotiations with the Giants, a source told the Post on Thursday, stressing “Dexter wants to be traded.’’
News has picked up that the Giants have begun listening to other teams about a deal. Word is they either want a top-10 pick or a 1st-round pick with some later picks added.
Dexter Lawrence might be a more realistic Bears target than Crosby.
While the Giants may want what they want, the truth is the best they can probably hope for is a 1st round pick. He is still an excellent defensive tackle, but he turns 29 this year. Players of his size (340 lbs) don’t usually have extended runs into their 30s. That means any team that acquires him will be hoping he can stay productive for three or four more seasons. They will have to pay him the amount he wants during that time, which is a lot for a defensive lineman. Would the Chicago Bears be willing to do it?
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If you believe the not-so-subtle hint in Dunleavy’s recent post, you’d think yes.
The truth is, Dexter Lawrence would solve two of the Bears’ most pressing issues. He would immediately shore up the middle of their run defense, which has been a sieve for the past few years. At the same time, he would also improve their interior pass rush. His 34 pressures last season were by far the best of any nose tackle in the NFL. He would make life so much easier for Montez Sweat and Austin Booker on the edges. If you can get him for the 25th pick in the draft, that is a pretty solid deal.
Smart money still says this isn’t likely.
The logistics just don’t match up. For one, the Bears currently have the lowest cap space in the NFL. They need to restructure several of their veteran contracts to make room for Dexter. That isn’t something general manager Ryan Poles likes to do. Then there is the draft capital involved. Is a 1st round pick by itself enough? Probably not. There will be multiple teams interested in Lawrence. Some of them will have more cap space and/or draft capital than the Bears.
That means this comes down to a simple decision. Would Lawrence’s addition to the roster make the Bears an undeniable favorite to compete for a Super Bowl in the NFC? Considering the holes they still have at left tackle, linebacker, safety, and defensive end, you could probably argue not. Still, surprises always happen in this league. Poles isn’t afraid to be bold. If he can get Lawrence at a favorable price without mortgaging the future, this could actually happen.
