The Cincinnati Bengals made franchise history just days before the 2026 NFL Draft. In an unprecedented move, Cincinnati traded away its No. 10 overall pick to the New York Giants to land Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II on a one-year, $28 million contract extension. Analyst says it would be a major win.

While trading a top-10 pick is risky, NFL analyst Sam Monson believes Lawrence could be an “absolute steal” for the Bengals. Speaking on the Check The Mic with Steve Palazzolo & Sam Monson podcast, Monson pointed out that Lawrence is incredibly motivated to bounce back after a tough 2025 season 

“You've seen the interviews with him. He's like, 'I'm going to spend the next two months working out.' They're like, 'In June?' He's like, 'Yeah, it's go time,'”  Monson said. "I think projecting Dexter Lawrence to get back to being something like his best this year is not unreasonable. And if that's the case, the 10th overall pick is an absolute steal, particularly with the contract that they have him signed to."

If Lawrence returns to his elite 2024 form, where he racked up a career-high nine sacks, this trade will be a massive win for Cincinnati, according to the analyst.

Rather than ignoring last year's shortcomings, it suggests Lawrence has recognized them and is using them as motivation to improve.

“He's already talking about a guy who wants to show up in the best shape of his life as opposed to a guy who showed up definitely not in the best shape of his life this time a year ago," added Monson in the same interview.

After setting a career high with nine sacks in 2024, Lawrence's production dipped significantly in 2025, as he finished with career lows of 0.5 sacks and eight quarterback hits. But the analyst shows confidence since Lawrence has started to show growth and accountability.

The move to acquire Lawrence did require passing on top draft prospects like Caleb Downs and Rueben Bain, which could be debated years from now. 

However, for the immediate future, landing a highly motivated, dominant defensive force for $28 million looks like a phenomenal short-term gamble for the Bengals. In addition to Lawrence, the team has also included Boye Mafe in a three-year deal worth up to $60 million.

The Bengals' defense has remained one of the worst in the league, ranking No.31, as per FOX Sports, which is why the team is eager to begin the season with a strong team that is ready to head to the Super Bowl.

However, the debate surrounding Lawrence continues.

Analysts argue that the Bengals have paid a high price for Lawrence’s trade

ESPN analyst Seth Walder has handed out his NFL offseason grades, and the blockbuster trade involving defensive tackle Lawrence is drawing heavy criticism for the Cincinnati Bengals. 

"The Bengals made a high-profile trade, sending the No. 10 pick to the Giants in exchange for Lawrence," wrote the analyst. "The move was both uncharacteristic and unwise. Yes, Cincinnati needs to invest resources into its defense. But this was not the way to do it."

While the Bengals desperately needed to inject star power into their defensive front, Walder argued that they surrendered far too much draft capital for a veteran coming off a noticeable statistical decline.

Lawrence struggled to generate consistent pressure last season, finishing with a meager 8.4% pass rush win rate and just 0.5 sacks.

In return, Walder praised New York for maximizing asset value, naming the swap the Giants' best move of the offseason.

"The value of the No. 10 pick was simply a much better return than the veteran defensive tackle is likely worth," Walder noted.

Ultimately, New York walks away with an elite top-10 asset to accelerate their rebuild, leaving Cincinnati to hope Lawrence returns to peak form to justify the steep price tag.

Do you think Lawrence can help the team turn the last season’s fate around? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Aaindri Thakuri

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar