Much has been made about the New York Giants potentially turning a corner after hiring longtime Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh to replace Brian Daboll.
The Giants badly needed an adult in the room, and Harbaugh fits that to a tee. A Super Bowl champion with the Ravens, Harbaugh should help raise the floor of a team that has spent much of the last decade as one of the NFL's most dysfunctional franchises.
Well, all of the good vibes in East Rutherford have been sapped, as Giants star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence has requested a trade, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Nothing like the face of the franchise requesting a trade shortly after the franchise savior was hired. You simply can't take the New York Giants out of the New York Giants.
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleThe Dallas Cowboys can rejoice after Giants star Dexter Lawrence requests a trade
Per Schefter, the Giants and Lawrence have made no progress in contract talks that have stretched across two offseasons. While a bigger offer from New York could still resolve things, Lawrence coming off a down year has only complicated negotiations further.
It makes sense why the Giants may be reluctant to hand Lawrence a blank check now, but it never should have reached this point.
From 2022 to 2024, Lawrence made three Pro Bowls and was twice a second-team All-Pro. Even with an uncharacteristically unproductive 2025, he's one of the most disruptive defensive players in the league, regardless of position. It’s possible his dip in production was tied to the lack of a contract that reflects his impact, so the Giants have nobody but themselves to blame for that.
Simply put, this is a great day for the Dallas Cowboys.
If there’s one thing the Giants have that strikes fear into opposing teams, it’s their defensive line. Lawrence, Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Kayvon Thibodeaux are a lot to handle. Offenses can only double-team one of them, which creates 1-on-1 opportunities across the rest of the front. Take Lawrence out of the equation, and suddenly it's much less daunting.
Edge rushers will always be the premium assets on defense, but defensive tackles have become just as crucial in today’s NFL. Interior pressure is often the quickest way to disrupt a play, and teams are placing more value than ever on dominant forces in the trenches.
It’s utter malpractice that Lawrence was pushed to request a trade. The sooner he’s out of the NFC East, the better.