Week 8 of the NFL season is already here, and conversations for end-of-the-season awards have begun. Dexter Lawrence will be one of the names to watch going forward for DPOY. The New York Giants selected Lawrence with the 17th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Coming out of college as a junior, he played three seasons for Clemson under head coach Dabo Swinney.
Lawrence is a 6 foot 4, 340-pound defensive tackle in his sixth season with the Giants. In May 2023, the two-time Pro Bowler agreed to terms on a new four-year contract extension for $90 million with $60 million guaranteed to stay in New York. Has Lawrence’s early season impact given him enough of a push for Defensive Player of the Year?
New York Giants Defensive Tackle Dexter Lawrence Leads the NFL with Nine Sacks. Is he an Early Candidate for Defensive Player of the Year?
A Giant Bright Spot
The Giants have had a tough time winning games this season and have often struggled to score touchdowns. However, Lawrence has been outstanding. Under first-year defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, the Giants’ defense has found some success, leading the league with 31 sacks. Out of those, Lawrence has recorded nine sacks. That’s right—NINE SACKS! He has already surpassed his previous career high of eight sacks, and we have another half of the season remaining. However, he remains humble and would rather see the team win games.
Does having nine sacks through seven games mean anything to Dexter Lawrence?
"Not when we keep losing." pic.twitter.com/GhldFItqlk
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) October 21, 2024
Despite the Giants’ disappointing start to the season, Lawrence has emerged as a strong candidate for the Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award. Fans have struggled to find positives this season, but Lawrence is vital to the defensive puzzle. The team’s overall struggles should not overshadow his individual performance so far into the season. The DPOY Award is an individual accolade that showcases excellence regardless of the team’s record of 2-5. Lawrence’s impact on the field proves that exceptional players can shine even in tough times.
Dominating the Trenches
Lawrence primarily plays as a 1-technique; he lines up as a nose tackle directly across from the center. This position makes it harder to generate an intense pass rush because you are often blocked by two offensive linemen instead of one, as opposed to an edge rusher. According to Next Gen Stats, Lawrence has been double-teamed on 63.3% of his pass rush attempts this season. Chasing him in sacks is New York Jets defensive end Will McDonald IV, who follows closely with eight sacks, and Ravens linebacker, Kyle Van Noy, who has 7.5 sacks. As far as defensive tackles go, the next-best interior defensive lineman has recorded four sacks.
Dexter Lawrence has been double-teamed on 63.3% of his pass rushes this season, the highest rate faced by any player since at least 2018 (min. 100 pass rushes).
Lawrence currently leads the NFL in sacks (9).@Giants | #Giants100 pic.twitter.com/eimnjegPZc
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) October 21, 2024
Historical Context
The last time a member of the Giants won Defensive Player of the Year was 2001. It was 23 years ago when Michael Strahan beat out Brian Urlacher (later DPOY Winner in 2005) by seven votes, making him the first Giant to win the award since Lawrence Taylor. In a season where Strahan played all 16 regular season games, he totaled 61 tackles and 22.5 sacks, which still holds the record for most sacks in a single season, now tied with T.J. Watt. Strahan led the league in sacks twice, in both 2001 and 2003. Before retiring, he was also a part of the Super Bowl champion team in 2007 that defeated the New England Patriots, capping off a fulfilling 15-year career with the Giants. Strahan was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014.
Before Michael Strahan, we must take it back to see the only other New York Giant ever to win the Defensive Player of the Year award. In the 1980s, Taylor emerged as a force to be reckoned with for the Giants, revolutionizing the linebacker position and solidifying his legacy as one of the NFL’s all-time greats. During his career, Taylor helped lead the team to two Super Bowl victories: 1986 over the Denver Broncos and 1991 against the Buffalo Bills. Throughout his 13-season tenure in New York, he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year three times, proving that he was often the best player on the field while gaining the respect of both his teammates and opponents. Taylor’s impact extended beyond the stats; he had redefined defensive play and left an undeniable mark on the game still today.
Competition Heating Up
Currently favored to win DPOY is Watt; he has four and a half sacks through the first seven games of the season, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. His most recent accomplishment was hitting the milestone of 100 career sacks which was achieved against the Dallas Cowboys in week 6. This season, Watt is ranked No. 2 in Pro Football Focus’ (PFF) pass-rushing grades with an impressive score of 93.1, even while dealing with frequent double teams in recent weeks. Watt has been among the top 3 in DPOY voting in 4 of the last 5 seasons, including winning the award for the first time in 2021.
Conclusion
Despite the Giants’ struggles, Lawrence’s early-season impact makes him a compelling candidate for Defensive Player of the Year. His ability to perform at an elite level, even when facing constant double teams, showcases his exceptional talent. As the season progresses, Lawrence will be a name to watch for fans to watch in this year’s DPOY race.
Main Photo Courtesy of Vincent Carchietta – Imagn Images
