FOX Sports gives Giants strong grade for return on Dexter Lawrence

On Saturday, with less than a week before the 2026 NFL draft, the New York Giants traded nose tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for the No. 10 overall pick on Thursday night.

The trade drew mixed reviews. While some observers felt the Giants received less than expected in return, others believed that acquiring a top-10 pick from a down year for the three-time Pro Bowler represented a stunning outcome.

FOX Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano handed out grades to both teams following the blockbuster deal that sent arguably the Giants’ best player to Cincinnati.

The fact that the Giants got a top-10 pick for a player in that situation, heading towards his third NFL contract, is remarkable — especially considering they didn’t have to give anything else up. And the fact that they got it from the Bengals — a team that historically treats draft picks like they’re gold bullions in Fort Knox — makes the deal even more stunning.

Maybe the Giants can’t find a player like Lawrence, but good defensive tackles aren’t a rare commodity. And in the right scheme, with the right players around them, that can be enough.

But the grade here isn’t about what the Giants lost, especially considering that if Lawrence finds his happiness and his old form, he’s a top-three defensive tackle. It’s about the return. A top-10 pick for a team starting over with a new coach, trying to rebuild a program, isn’t just gold. It’s platinum.

Yes, it matters what the Giants do with the pick. But on paper, they’re now getting two of the 10 best players in this draft.

Grade: A-