Dexter Lawrence's actual trade value should (already) have Ryan Poles' attention

As soon as it was out there, New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence had asked for a trade, and the Chicago Bears landed as a top potential suitor. Things seemed to have briefly cooled a bit, but as the last full week before the draft went on, things turned for the worse again.

Lawrence wants out of New York completely, and his trade request is about more than a contract dispute. On that latter front, losing double-digit games in six of seven NFL seasons would wear just about anyone down.

With Lawrence's desire for money in mind, and coming off the worst statistical season of his career, it'll be hard for the Giants to get a first-round pick like they are rumored to want if they trade him.

During a recent appearance on ESPN Milwaukee, ESPN's Adam Schefter confirmed that.

"My guess is a two and a five," Schefter said, meaning second and fifth-round picks. "That's my sense of what it would take. I don't know that it's right."

"I had somebody suggest to me, 'Oh, they think it would be a first-round pick.' I don't know that anybody is trading a first-round pick for a 28-year-old defensive tackle who wants more money who is coming off, by his standards, a down year. I don't see that."

Dexter Lawrence's actual trade value should have Ryan Poles' attention (if it doesn't already)

During a recent appearance on ESPN New York's "Bart and Carlin", ESPN insider and analyst Field Yates was asked about Lawrence's actual trade value. In light of next year's draft class being seen as better than this year's, should they try to get a first-round pick in 2027 rather than this year?

"I'd be stunned if they get a '1' next year for Dexter Lawrence", Yates said. "I'd be extremely surprised....You're paying the cost twice here, right? He doesn't wanna come to your team for the two years he has remaining on his contract, as they're currently constructed, right? You're talking about both trading a pick, or picks, and paying Dexter Lawrence what he wants."

In light of the pay raise Lawrence wants, thought to be $30 million per year from his current $22.5 million average, Yates landed on his answer to co-host Chris Carlin's question.

"We can just follow trades of players like this that have taken place in the past. It ended up being more like 'non first-round value', sometimes they're middle round picks for a player like this."

Parting with the 25th overall pick has been seen as a reasonable cost for the Bears to get Lawrence, with the belief that last season was an outlier rather than the start of his decline.

Not having to part with a first-round pick, and having an extra second-round pick they could part with, lines the Bears up even more nicely as a suitor for Lawrence. Due diligence is surely being done on him to some extent, along with what'd have to be done to clear cap space.

Read more: Fantasy analyst has (understandably) cautious view of Colston Loveland for 2026

If the tape backs up an overall Pro Football Focus grade that had Lawrence in the top-12 among defensive tackles last season, the Bears shouldn't hesitate to part with a "two and a five" for the three-time Pro Bowler. Ryan Poles may simply be waiting for the Giants to acknowledge they're not getting a first-round pick.

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