Dexter Lawrence Is the Player Green Bay Wants But Can't Have

On Monday, Dexter Lawrence, the New York Giants’ premier interior defensive lineman, requested a trade. Reports of contract negotiations have surfaced for the last two years, yet the two sides have never closed a deal. Lawrence will likely be traded before the upcoming draft and still has two years left on his current deal.

Of course, Packers fans have come out of the Twitter woodwork, begging Brian Gutekunst to pull the trigger on the two-time All-Pro. Perhaps the Micah Parsons trade has made some fans hopeful about marquee signings. However, trading for Lawrence will be too expensive in terms of picks, players, and money, no matter how good he would look in green and gold.

Dexter Lawrence is a 340 lb., two-time Second-Team All-Pro. He excels in all facets of the game. He can stuff runs, eat multiple blockers, and get after the quarterback efficiently. Even though he’s played in New York his entire career — or perhaps because of that, given the Giants’ recent history — Lawrence has quickly become one of the most underrated players in football. Since 2022, Lawrence has recorded an NFL-high 108 pressures when lined up at nose tackle; Vita Vea is the next highest with 32.

Green Bay’s front office has also cleared major cap room this offseason, especially after not pursuing any expensive contracts. Paired with the plethora of compensatory picks from the departures of Romeo Doubs, Malik Willis, and Quay Walker, there’s an argument for the Packers to give up draft capital to pursue Lawrence.

The Packers still desperately need more interior defenders, even after signing Javon Hargrave in free agency. Lawrence would fill the A gap as a true nose tackle, leaving Hargrave to serve more in the pass-rushing game. No one denies Lawrence’s elite production and physical presence on the defensive line, but the amount Green Bay would have to give up pushes this potential trade into pipe-dream territory.

Green Bay’s lack of first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 will make packaging a reasonable trade offer for Lawrence difficult. Any trade would have to involve at least this year’s second-rounder (pick 52) plus at least one starting-caliber player. Even a package including Dontavion Wicks and a second-round pick likely won’t get the job done, especially if other teams offer their late firsts.

Picks aside, trading any starter will prove detrimental to the roster-building and player-development philosophy Green Bay’s front office has worked so hard to construct. Sure, Wicks is set to be Green Bay’s WR4 in a loaded room, and moving him might make sense. But the number of picks needed to add on top will be too costly.

Lawrence suffered a dislocated left elbow not long ago, ending his 2024 campaign after a career-high nine sacks in 12 games. He also occasionally looked disinterested last season, finishing with a career-low 0.5 sacks. There’s little doubt Lawrence will bounce back to his former self on a new squad. However, his past injuries and aging concerns could also dissuade Brian Gutekunst from pulling the trigger.

Lawrence is projected to make around $27 million per year with a new contract. Green Bay could fit him under the cap, especially with Lawrence being on a reasonable contract for the next two seasons. However, the impending contracts for stars Tucker Kraft and Christian Watson, as well as Jordan Love and Micah Parsons’ massive deals coming into effect soon, put a damper on acquiring Lawrence.

As much as Packers fans want another star defender as the team goes all in, there is little chance Green Bay can afford to pay Dexter Lawrence while keeping the roster competitive at all positions.