Why NFL Coaches 'STUNNED' by Dexter Lawrence Trade Revealed in New Rumors After Giants-Bengals Deal

Some coaches around the NFL were surprised at the return the New York Giants secured by trading star defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported the Giants will receive the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 as part of the deal.

Connor Hughes of SNY interviewed a group of coaches who were "STUNNED the Giants got what they did."

"All agree: Very good player, but not worth No. 10," Hughes wrote. "Age, injury and concerns regarding his conditioning pointed out. Also that you need to limit the number of snaps he plays to maximize his production; really just a one position player."

ESPN's Bill Barnwell pointed out how trades like this aren't common. Teams generally part with top-10 picks in order to move up for specific prospects. Less common is parlaying that capital into proven talent:

"How rare? We've seen a grand total of two veterans traded for first-round picks that were already guaranteed to be in the top 10 since 2000. One was Randy Moss, who was dealt as part of a deal for the seventh pick in 2005. The other was Russell Wilson, who was shipped to the Broncos for a package that included the ninth selection in 2022. Moss was a 28-year-old wide receiver with a Hall of Fame résumé. Wilson was a quarterback who had reached five consecutive Pro Bowls. Lawrence is a very good player, but he isn't a quarterback, and he's not on a Hall of Fame track."

Barnwell added that "the Moss and Wilson trades didn't work out whatsoever," which isn't exactly encouraging from Cincinnati's perspective.

Lawrence is likely to have a bigger immediate impact than whoever the Bengals would've selected at No. 10. That means something when the franchise is trying to end a three-year playoff drought and head off any unease quarterback Joe Burrow has about his future.

Over the long term, though, the Giants could wind up the winners of the trade.

Lawrence will turn 29 midway through next season, and the Bengals are expected to give him a big extension, per Rapoport and Garafolo. That will likely send his average earnings to $26 million or more based on the current market.

Given his age, it's worth asking how much longer the three-time Pro Bowler will perform at an elite level.

All in all, this trade may have been a perfect storm.

The Bengals were a motivated buyer. Beyond wanting to make the playoffs, they may have wanted to shed the reputation for being frugal and unwilling to pay for outside talent.

The Giants are in a rebuild and didn't have as much need for an older star who's trying to get paid. With the 10th pick, they can add to their young core.