News recently came out that defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence had requested a trade from the New York Giants, which, of course, had Chicago Bears fans' attention, as they are interested in acquiring him.
The Bears have a need at defensive tackle, and Lawrence is a three-time Pro Bowler, so it makes sense for Chicago to be attached. NFL insider Ian Rapoport shared an update on how talks are going between Lawrence and the Giants.
"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."
Bears look to be in line to try to acquire Dexter Lawrence if they want him
Lawrence has been a force in the middle since being the Giants' first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He made the Pro Bowl from 2022 through 2024 and was a two-time second-team All-Pro selection in 2022 and 2023. Back in 2024, he had a career-high nine sacks in just 12 games with the Giants.
While Gervon Dexter is the top defensive tackle on the Bears, the dropoff is pretty significant after that. Despite all the money spent on Grady Jarrett last offseason, he was a disappointment, with his age showing through in injuries and a drop in production.
Chicago has tried to clean up the defensive line this offseason through free agency, signing three new linemen: Neville Gallimore, James Lynch, and Kentavius Street. While all three are good rotational players, they are not enough to move the needle on the line.
Bears fans have been calling for the team to make a call with the Giants to try to strike a deal to get Lawrence. Even ESPN NFL Draft expert Matt Miller called for it on X, commenting on Rapoport's post with a simple comment.
"Bears, anyone?"
Bears, anyone?
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) April 15, 2026
Here's the issue the Bears need to get resolved before making the trade: the salary cap. The Bears are under $1 million in cap space, so they would need to start handing out contract extensions, ask to restructure contracts, and potentially cut or trade players on the roster.
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Chicago has the draft capital to make something happen to get Lawrence, so as long as they can create enough cap space to acquire him, the Bears might have a real chance of transforming their defense for the better.
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