Before the Dexter Lawrence trade, an NFL GM said the Bengals were “screwed” if they kept the No. 10 pick

TL;DR

The Cincinnati Bengals traded the No. 10 overall pick for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, receiving praise for the decision. Analysts believe the Bengals would have been at a disadvantage if they had kept the pick due to a weak draft class at that position.

Key points

Bengals traded No. 10 pick for Dexter Lawrence
Analysts praised the trade decision
Draft class weak at defensive tackle position

Cincinnati BengalsNew York Giants

Oct 26, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence (97) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Man, it sure is nice to have national media members praising the Cincinnati Bengals for something. There are a lot of them praising the Bengals for trading the No. 10 overall pick for Dexter Lawrence, as they should be. ESPN’s Field Yates is among them, noting how the Bengals were wise to upgrade the defensive tackle position with a current NFL player, as this year’s draft class is lacking at that particular position. NFL Network reporter Daniel Jeremiah took it a step further, saying that both he and an NFL GM thought the Bengals were “screwed” if they kept the No. 10 overall pick. Yates and Jeremiah are two of the best when it comes to the NFL Draft. When they say something draft-related, it should be taken seriously. There are some talented players at the top of the draft, but they all come with their question marks. There’s Rueben Bain’s arm length, Jermod McCoy’s torn ACL, Keldric Faulk’s lack of production, and others. SI’s Albert Breer even said recently that Alabama offensive tackle Kayden Proctor was a dark-horse candidate for the Bengals in Round 1. No thank you. The Bengals haven’t drafted overly well in recent years, especially on defense. So what did they do Saturday night? They went outside the box, tried something different. Rather than bet on drafting and developing, they said, “The hell with the 10th pick, we’re trading it for a proven defensive commodity.” That’s what the Bengals did. Yes, the Bengals. They did this. This is how you modernize. is going all in. The time is now. If you’re looking at hotels in for the second week of February, good for you! I am too. *Add us to your “**” on Google to get all the latest Cincinnati Bengals news and views! And Who DEY!!*

Q&A

Why did the Bengals trade the No. 10 pick for Dexter Lawrence?

The Bengals aimed to upgrade their defensive tackle position with a proven player, as this year's draft class lacked talent in that area.

What did NFL analysts say about the Bengals' decision to trade the pick?

Analysts like Field Yates and Daniel Jeremiah praised the Bengals for their decision, suggesting they would have been 'screwed' if they had kept the No. 10 pick.

Who is Dexter Lawrence and why is he significant for the Bengals?

Dexter Lawrence is a defensive tackle known for his strong performance in the NFL, and his addition is seen as a crucial upgrade for the Bengals' defense.