Dexter Lawrence II NFL Trade Packages and Top Landing Spots After Giants Star Requests Move

After failed attempts to negotiate a new contract with the New York Giants, Dexter Lawrence II has requested a trade. If Big Blue moves him, it can fetch a premium draft pick in return for the three-time Pro Bowler and two-time second-team All-Pro.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Lawrence and the Giants haven't made progress on a new pact following two offseasons of negotiations. 

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, New York restructured the 28-year-old's contract last July, adding $3 million in incentives to his salary. Now, he has no guaranteed money left on the final two terms of his deal.

Lawrence's trade request might be a step to push contract talks in his favor, though he's coming off a down year in which he recorded 31 tackles (four for loss), a half-sack and 12 pressures, a significant drop-off from his nine-sack 2024 campaign.

Still, because of his resume and recent production, teams will show interest in the 6'4", 340-pounder.

Here are five trade packages that make sense for the Giants and a few playoff contenders.

Buffalo Bills

AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes

Buffalo Bills general Manager Brandon Beane

Buffalo Bills Receive: DT Dexter Lawrence II

New York Giants Receive: 2026 3rd-round pick, 2026 5th-round pick and a 2027 second-round pick

The Bills are a Super Bowl contender with one glaring weakness on defense.

In free agency, Buffalo didn't adequately address the interior of its defensive line after ranking 28th in rushing yards allowed and giving up the second-most rushing touchdowns and the third-most yards per carry last season. 

The Bills can solve their biggest problem with a trade for Lawrence, who can plug the middle and generate an interior pass rush to complement edge-rushers Greg Rousseau and Bradley Chubb.

Coming from Buffalo as general manager Brandon Beane's assistant, Giants general manager Joe Schoen can tap into his Bills contacts in a trade.

The Bills traded their 2026 second-rounder to the Chicago Bears for wide receiver DJ Moore. So, they would probably need to include 2027 draft capital to get a deal done.

Also, remember that Lawrence wants a new contract. Buffalo has $12.3 million in cap space, but it can restructure left tackle Dion Dawkins' deal to clear an additional $11.4 million.

Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles

Chicago Bears Receive: DT Dexter Lawrence II

New York Giants Receive: 2026 2nd-round pick, 2026 4th-round pick

As previously mentioned, the Bears have the Buffalo Bills' second-round pick from the recent DJ Moore trade, giving them the capital to strike a deal with the Giants.

NFL insiders linked Chicago to edge-rusher Maxx Crosby before the trade between the Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders fell apart because the Bears need more help on the defensive line. Lawrence can provide that and complement Gervon Dexter Sr., who's emerged as a pass-rusher with 11 sacks over the last two seasons.

Between Lawrence and Dexter, the Bears would have over 650 pounds of manpower on the interior of their defensive front. Chicago's run defense could improve from 27th in yards allowed to one of the league's most stout units with that big-man combination at defensive tackle.

To make a move for Lawrence, who wants a new deal, the Bears would have to restructure or terminate multiple contracts to free up cap space. They have less than $1 million in salary cap space, but the front office can manipulate the books to bolster a below-average defensive interior.

Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/Gary McCullough

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Arik Armstead

Jacksonville Jaguars Receive: DT Dexter Lawrence II

New York Giants Receive: 2026 2nd-round pick, DL Arik Armstead

Entering the final year of his contract without guaranteed money, Armstead is a cut candidate.

Instead of outright releasing Armstead and saving $2.3 million pre-June 1 or $14.5 million post-June 1, Jacksonville can attempt to package the 32-year-old in a deal to acquire Lawrence.

The Jaguars gave up the fewest rushing yards in 2025, but they need a boost in their interior pass rush. Armstead logged 5.5 sacks in the first 11 weeks of the previous season, but he didn't record any thereafter in a quiet finish to the campaign.

Lawrence is coming off a season in which he made minimal impact on the Giants' pass rush, but he wreaked havoc on opposing quarterbacks between 2022 and 2024, logging 21 sacks and 79 pressures during that stretch.

In Jacksonville, Lawrence would line up alongside DaVon Hamilton, who's a solid run-stopper. The pair could maintain the team's No. 1 run defense while the former gets after quarterbacks.

The Giants add a productive veteran along with pick No. 56 in this scenario, though the club would probably restructure Armstead's deal.

New England Patriots

AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel

New England Patriots Receive: Dexter Lawrence II

New York Giants Receive: 2026 2nd-round pick, 2026 4th-round pick and 2026 6th-rounder

New England would field the league's best defensive front with Milton Williams, Lawrence and Christian Barmore on the interior. While it sounds like a dream lineup, the Patriots have shown they're willing to be aggressive in defensive acquisitions. 

Last offseason, they signed several veteran defenders, including Williams, cornerback Carlton Davis III, edge-rusher Harold Landry III and linebacker Robert Spillane. They carried over that approach into this offseason, signing All-Pro safety Kevin Byard and outside linebacker Dre'Mont Jones.

So, it's not far-fetched to believe New England could at least inquire about Lawrence. Also, the club has $35.3 million in cap space, which is more than enough to bring in the established interior defender and sign him to a new deal.

The Giants could ask for Barmore in return, though if the Patriots prefer to keep him, a second- and fourth-rounder should seal the deal for both sides. New England would likely have to add another late-round pick to top a similar package from the Chicago Bears.

San Francisco 49ers

AP Photo/John Froschauer

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk

New York Giants Receive: 2026 2nd-rounder, 2026 4th-rounder and WR Brandon Aiyuk

San Francisco 49ers Receive: DT Dexter Lawrence II

In March, the 49ers made a move to beef up the interior of their defensive front, trading a 2026 third-rounder to the Dallas Cowboys for Osa Odighizuwa.

Perhaps San Francisco isn't done trying to revamp the unit under new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. Keep in mind that Alfred Collins had a quiet rookie campaign, logging 17 tackles (one for loss) and a sack. 

With a healthy Nick Bosa and 2025 first-rounder Mykel Williams on the edge, Lawrence and Odighizuwa would round out what could be an above-average defensive line. 

San Francisco could also find an opportunity to move on from Brandon Aiyuk in a trade instead of outright releasing him.

49ers owner Jed York and head coach Kyle Shanahan gave the impression that the team could keep Aiyuk, but it's difficult to envision the receiver repairing his relationship with the club amid a lack of communication.

The Giants signed wide receiver Darnell Mooney and pass-catching tight end Isaiah Likely in free agency, but they could help second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart tremendously by bringing in a talented receiver who racked up over 1,300 yards in 2023.

If Aiyuk and Malik Nabers are both healthy after suffering serious knee injuries, they could be a premier receiver tandem.

Player contract and team salary-cap details are provided by Over the Cap.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.