On April 6, veteran defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence requested a trade from the New York Giants. The 28-year-old has two years remaining on his contract. He is on the books for $20 million in 2026. Lawrence feels he is underpaid relative to the current defensive tackle market. While the front office and Lawrence’s agents try to find a compromise, one Giants captain gave his opinion.
Earlier this week, Brian Burns spoke with the media. Burns did an interview with ESPN promoting his upcoming celebrity softball game. He said, “Figure it out. Get it done. I don’t want to see somebody else in that 97 besides Dex. So that’s just my take on it.”
Players and fans want Lawrence back for 2026 and beyond. However, the NFL is a business. People often forget that. Time will tell whether the Giants can retain their anchor on the defensive line.
Brian Burns wants Dexter Lawrence to return to the Giants
Where does Lawrence’s contract compare to other defensive tackles?
In 2023, the Giants signed Lawrence to a four-year, $90 million contract extension. At the time, he was the third-highest paid defensive tackle in the NFL. Since then, he is now 12th in terms of annual average value (AAV) at $22.5 million. Kansas City Chiefs three-time Super Bowl champion Chris Jones is the highest-paid defensive tackle in the league at $31.75 AAV.
That is by far the most of any player at that position. New England Patriots defensive tackle Milton Williams is second at $26 million per season. Relative to the rest of the defensive tackle market, Lawrence believes he is underpaid. That is why he was requested in a trade from the Giants. New York will listen to trade offers as the draft approaches, but the team would like to find a resolution with Lawrence.
Giants captain Brian Burns urges the team to keep Dexter Lawrence
Speaking with ESPN, Burns gave his honest thoughts on Lawrence requesting a trade from the Giants. He said, “Business is business, I’ve been through it. … How I feel technically is that we just need him in the building, regardless of whatever it is.”
ESPN’s Jordan Raanan mentioned that the Giants have had “productive” conversations with Lawrence’s agent. Additionally, general manager Joe Schoen said a similar statement. At his annual predraft news conference, Schoen led with an update on Lawrence’s situation. New York’s GM said the team has had “good conversations” with Lawrence’s representation in the last five to six days. Will there be a resolution before the NFL draft?
This is an important aspect to keep in mind on the Dexter Lawrence situation. The locker room is watching.
From Brian Burns earlier this week:
"Figure it out. Get it done."
Full quote below…
“Business is business,” fellow captain Brian Burns told ESPN in a recent interview…
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) April 15, 2026
Lawrence’s production slipped in 2025, but he is still a key piece for New York’s defense
After three consecutive Pro Bowl selections, Lawrence had a down year in 2025. Despite starting all 17 games for New York, he finished with a career-low 31 tackles and just 0.5 sacks. Given his past production, Lawrence did not live up to his standard. In 2024, the 28-year-old appeared in 12 games and had a career-high 9.0 sacks. He is still one of the most dominant players at his position. It’s up to the front office and Lawrence’s agents to find a resolution. Otherwise, he could be on a different team in 2026.
Main Photo: [Robert Deutsch] – Imagn Images
