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The Minnesota Vikings will not be acquiring Dexter Lawrence from the Cincinnati Bengals, as the trade theory has been dismissed. They are now looking at other defensive tackle options in the draft or free agency.
Cincinnati Bengals Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin walks off the field at the conclusion of the team s rookie mini camp, Friday, May 12, 2023, inside the team s indoor practice bubble in Cincinnati. © Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
Dexter Lawrence will not be a Minnesota Viking, at least not anytime soon. The Cincinnati Bengals pulled off a trade last weekend â at a steep price â with the New York Giants for the NFLâs best nose tackle, and along the way, the fleeting Lawrence-to-Minnesota trade idea passed away.
The Vikings now shift focus to other defensive tackle options after the Lawrence trade theory quickly perished.
The Vikings must now address their need at defensive tackle with a rookie in the draft or in free agency, targeting players like Christian Wilkins or D.J. Reader.
Lawrence is a Bengal.
The Vikings did not trade for Dexter Lawrence because the Cincinnati Bengals completed a trade with the New York Giants, effectively ending the possibility.
The Vikings are considering targeting defensive tackles like Christian Wilkins and D.J. Reader after the Lawrence trade theory ended.
The exact cost of the trade for Dexter Lawrence has not been disclosed, but it was described as steep.
The Vikings can address their defensive tackle needs through the draft or by signing free agents.

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New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) speaks with reporters during training camp, Jul 23, 2025, at Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, addressing media questions as he prepares for the upcoming season and anchors the defensive front during early practices. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Lawrence Trade Is Official
A pre-draft shakeup, The Athleticâs Charlotte Carroll and Jeff Howe wrote Sunday, âThe New York Giants have agreed to send Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for the No. 10 pick in next weekâs NFL Draft, a league source confirmed Saturday to The Athletic. The Bengals announced the trade Sunday. Lawrence passed his physical and the Bengals signed him to a one-year extension through the 2028 season.â
âThe move comes after Lawrence publicly requested a trade April 6. The All-Pro defensive tackle has not attended the teamâs voluntary offseason workouts, which began April 7. The day after the news went public, coach John Harbaugh said he wasnât surprised by the request, calling the prospects of Lawrence staying with the Giantsâ high.'â
Before the trade, the Bengals had just over $1 million in available cap space, and that evidently just didnât matter.
Vikingsâ Draft Options at DT
After Saturday, we know Lawrence wonât join the Vikings via trade, and we know that Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, two men who combined for over 1,300 DT snaps last year, arenât coming back.
In Thursdayâs draft, that leaves these options for the Vikings in the first three rounds, where one could reasonably hope a starter could blossom:
Four of these men have been somewhat frequent mock-draft targets for Minnesota: Woods, McDonald, Banks, and Hunter. Itâs worth noting that McDonald and Hunter are nose tackles â like Lawrence.
Wilkins or Reader?
When Brian Flores took over as Miamiâs head coach in 2019, drafting Wilkins was a deliberate choice. Flores immediately recognized Wilkins as the ideal player to establish the identity of his defensive line, centering his defensive strategy around him and picking him as his first-ever draft pick in Miami.
Flores already possesses a deep understanding of Wilkinsâ strengths, knows how to utilize his abilities best, and appreciates how he fits into a scheme that prioritizes disruption and physicality. There is no uncertainty. Itâs just a matter of Wilkinsâs current asking price.

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor stands on the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles, Aug 7, 2025, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, observing late-game action as his team closes out a preseason matchup on the road. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
With interim general manager Rob Brzezinskiâs input, Floresâ endorsement carries considerable weight, and Wilkins would directly address a critical short-term roster need. Following the exits of Allen and Hargrave, the interior defensive line probably needs some juice, unless Minnesota has big plans for youngsters, Levi Drake Rodriguez and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins.
Wilkins provides precisely that: dependable run defense and a consistently strong presence in the trenches. Considering these converging factors, the rationale is clear. Wilkins joining Minnesota is a logical move.
Reader, too, has become a viable option after Minnesota signed zero interior defensive line during free agencyâs first or second wave. Heâs big-bodied and would fill the nose tackle role just fine. Itâs worth noting that Reader has already met with a handful of free-agent suitors, such as the Baltimore Ravens, and those teams could have him on speed dial after the draft.
Lawrence in CIN
The Bengals run a 4-3 defense, so their defensive line will look like this in September:
DE: Myles Murphy
DT: Jonathan Allen
DT: Dexter Lawrence
DE: Boye Mafe
DE: Shemar Stewart
Yes, thatâs the same Allen. Somewhat ironically, he signed with the Bengals a few days after the Vikings said goodbye, taking Minnesota off the hook for much of Allenâs would-be 2027 cap burden.

New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) celebrates after an interception against the Washington Commanders during the fourth quarter, Nov 19, 2023, at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, reacting with energy as the defense capitalizes on a turnover in a key late-game moment. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
On the Lawrence trade, Cincy Jungleâs Alex Frank reacted to the move: âThe Bengals havenât drafted overly well in recent years, especially on defense. So what did they do Saturday night? They went outside the box, tried something different.â
âRather than bet on drafting and developing, they said, âThe hell with the 10th pick, weâre trading it for a proven defensive commodity.â Thatâs what the Bengals did. Yes, the Bengals. They did this. This is how you modernize. Mike Brown is going all in. The time is now. If youâre looking at hotels in Los Angeles for the second week of February, good for you! I am too.â
Lawrence will turn 29 in November and hasnât logged a full sack in 22 games.