Brakes Pumped on Big Theoretical Vikings Trade
Because the Minnesota Vikings need a defensive tackle and the upcoming draft isn’t necessarily known for depth at that position, Dexter Lawrence hopped into the trade rumor two weeks ago when he requested a ticket out of New York. While a trade may still happen, Giants general manager Joe Schoen pumped the brakes on any Lawrence deals this week.
New York sounds prepared to shut down chatter about the Lawrence trade.
Naturally, Schoen would like to keep Lawrence. Who wouldn’t?
Any Real Lawrence Pursuit Would Require a Massive Offer
Schoen on Lawrence
In short, the Giants don’t want to trade Lawrence. Schoen told reporters this week, “We’ve had good conversations with his representatives throughout the last five or six days. Coach, senior vice president of football operations and strategy Dawn Aponte, myself, we’ve all been in communication, trying to find some resolution.”
“I’ll echo what coach said last week: We’d like for Dexter to be here, and at some point we’ll come to a resolution here, whatever that may be. We’ll see. But conversations have been really good, they’ve been productive and we’ll see what happens here down the road.”
Schoen also kept the trade door open, if only just a bit: “I’m always going to pick up the phone. So if a team calls — maybe not to the effect that Coach Harbaugh said last week that everybody is tradable — but, no, that is my job as the general manager. If teams call, you take into account it’s a case-by-case basis and what the compensation may be.”
“That’s my job to take into consideration what that looks like, what the compensation looks like, who the player is, how that affects the roster, and then try to make the best decision off of that.”
Therefore, the Lawrence sweepstakes are fluid. If Schoen gets his way, Lawrence will stay put.
Waiting to See How Lawrence Responds
While Schoen painted a rosy picture of Lawrence’s trade outcome, it remains to be seen if Lawrence’s representation agrees.
The signs point to no. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted after the Schoen press conference, “The Giants and star DL Dexter Lawrence, who have been talking about a new big-money extension, have reached an impasse, sources say. The Giants have engaged with teams on a potential trade and that will continue. It should come to a head before the Draft.”
It seems Lawrence is fully prepared to dig in and stand his ground.
The Trade Price
This is where things get complicated. Giants fans on social media have suggested that Lawrence could be traded for a 1st-Round pick and a player, or at least a mid-round pick. However, his statistics don’t necessarily support that valuation, considering he will be 29 this fall, has an injured elbow, and hasn’t recorded a full sack in a game since October 2024.
Some reporting this week has suggested that Lawrence won’t be gettable for anything less than a 1st-Rounder. Usually, when that kind of reporting leaks, it’s posturing by the trading team, which makes sense given Schoen’s steadfast comments about Lawrence.
In the end, the Giants can probably expect to nab a 1st-Rounder for Lawrence, with a 4th- or 5th-Round selection going to his new team along with him.
The Trade Destinations
A Lawrence shortlist of trade destinations probably looks something like this:
- Carolina Panthers
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Chicago Bears
- Houston Texans
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Minnesota Vikings
- New England Patriots
- Pittsburgh Steelers
The Panthers make a lot of sense from a roster-needs perspective and Lawrence’s geographic origins. He’s from North Carolina.
NFL.com’s Kevin Patra noted on the Jaguars as a trade partner last week, “Jacksonville doesn’t have a first-round pick, but general manager James Gladstone has 11 draft picks to throw around, including a second-rounder and three third-round picks. The GM has been fearless in his moves since taking over, so a trade for Lawrence wouldn’t be out of his comfort zone.”
“The Jags, like others, would have to make the money situation work, but adding a penetrator alongside Josh Hines-Allen and newly paid Travon Walker would upgrade the Jags’ ability to affect the quarterback in 2026. The AFC South champs have been quiet this offseason. Gladstone could change that in one phone call.”
The most likely forum for the Lawrence trade, assuming Schoen doesn’t pull a rabbit out of a hat with an extension, is the draft, and that is just eight days away.
Lawrence also reportedly wants a contract extension worth $30 million per season.
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