GIANTS AGREE MASSIVE FOUR-YEAR, $90 MILLION DEAL WITH DT DEXTER LAWRENCE AS NEW 2023 ROSTER BEGINS TO TAKE SHAPE
The New York Giants have agreed to an extension with Pro Bowl defensive tackle, Dexter Lawrence, the team announced.
As first reported by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the new deal is a four-year, $90 million extension with $60 million in guaranteed money. One of the leaders on the Giants defense and arguably the best defensive tackle in the league in 2022, Lawrence cashes in on what is the third-best defensive tackle contract in NFL history trailing only Titans’ Jeffrey Simmons, who signed his deal in early April, and Los Angeles Rams’ All-World tackle Aaron Donald.
Picked by former GM Dave Gettleman using the first round pick that the Giants received for WR Odell Beckham Jr. via a trade with the Cleveland Browns in 2019, Lawrence has morphed into one of the best interior linemen in the league.
The 6-foot-4 nose tackle led the team with a career-high 7.5 sacks last year. He also recorded 68 total tackles (35 solo), three passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and 54 quarterback pressures which was second among defensive tackles in the league last year, according to NextGen Stats.
The former Clemson Tiger has improved through his first four years in the league and exploded in 2022. The 25-year-old was the first Giants defensive lineman to make the Pro Bowl since defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul back in 2012 and the first interior lineman since Erik Howard in 1990.
Overall the team has had a busy offseason under General Manager Joe Schoen and Head Coach Brian Daboll as far as player acquisition goes. Both GM and head coach are in their second year with the Giants following a successful first year that ended with a trip to the NFC Divisional round.
“You don’t win games in April,” Schoen told the media after the draft last month. “… It’s about what we do this fall and how we go out there and compete when it matters and how we continue to build this offseason and get bigger, faster, stronger… and then how we prepare and execute in August.”
The team extended starting quarterback Daniel Jones in March, signing him to a four-year, $160 million deal and plan to sign star running back Saquon Barkley to an extension before July 17th. The Giants placed Barkley on the franchise tag in early spring and have until the July deadline to agree to an extension. Barkley has yet to sign the $10 million tag.
The Giants also brought in free agent inside linebacker Bobby Okereke on March 13, agreeing to a four-year, $40 million deal, with $22 million in guaranteed money. New York was eager to get Okereke and agreed terms with him on the first day NFL teams were allowed to speak with free agents from other teams.
The former Indianapolis Colt generated 75 defensive stops in 2022, tied for 10th-most among NFL linebackers according to NextGen stats. That was only 12 less than the total stops by the entire Giants’ linebacking group last year. Giants LBs combined for just 87 total defensive stops as a unit last season, which was worst in the league and 19 fewer than any other defense.
Big Blue also brought back outside linebacker Oshane Ximines on Thursday, rewarding him after a 2022 in which Ximines accounted for 24 total tackles (15 solo), two sacks, 3 tackles for loss, 8 quarterback hits, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and two passes defensed. Ximines was drafted by the Giants 95th overall in the third round of the 2019 draft and is thought to be an important part of the Giants’ defensive line going forward.
The Giants have also added wide receivers Parris Campbell, Jamison Crowder and re-signed Darius Slayton this offseason. The team then traded for former Las Vegas Raiders Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller adding to what is a more than decent skill position group for Daniel Jones. New York selected seven players via the draft last month and got a near consensus “A+” draft grade from most NFL analysts.
The Giants added DB Deonte Banks (Maryland), C John Michael Schmitz (Minnesota), WR Jalin Hyatt (Tennessee), RB Eric Gray (Oklahoma), CB Tre Hawkins III (Old Dominion), DL Jordon Riley (Oregon), DB Gervarrius Owens (Houston) in what is a rookie draft class that most expect at least four of the seven rookies to become immediate contributors.
The club also picked up the fifth-year option to starting LT Andrew Thomas earlier this week as the former Georgia bulldog is set to earn roughly $14 million in 2024. New York is also expected to work out a new deal with 2020 second-round pick, safety Xavier McKinney, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal.
Football is still a long ways away but the NFC East is shaping up to be one of the toughest divisions across the NFL. Schoen and Daboll remain fully aware of the competition posed by the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders, and are working hard to get ahead of their rivals. The Giants are expected to continue tinkering and fans should expect a few more big money deals before preseason rolls around in August.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
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