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Orlando Brown Jr. makes case for Bengals to acquire āballerā Dexter Lawrence
TL;DR
Orlando Brown Jr. advocates for the Cincinnati Bengals to trade for New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. The Bengals are looking to enhance their defense ahead of the NFL draft, where they hold the 10th pick.
The Cincinnati Bengals have spent the offseason trying to improve the NFLās 31st-ranked defense.
Those efforts will almost certainly continue when the NFL draft begins in 10 days. Most mock drafts predict the Bengals will select the best remaining pass rusher, linebacker or defensive back with the 10th pick in the first round.
So far, Cincinnati signed free agents in edge rusher Boye Mafe, defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and safeties Bryan Cook and Kyle Dugger.
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With an estimated $20 million in cap space available, the Bengals could make a big splash by trading for disgruntled New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.
Host Kay Adams posed that possibility to veteran Cincinnati left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. during an interview on Monday, April 13.
āAw, man, naw Dexter Lawrence is a baller,ā Brown said on FanDuel TVās āUp & Adams.ā āI mean, I think heād be even more of a baller in orange and black.ā
On April 6, ESPNās Adam Schefter reported Lawrence, an All-Pro entering his eighth season, requested a trade from the Giants. Consequently, the report said the 28-year-old Lawrence would not participate in voluntary workouts for new head coach John Harbaugh.
Lawrence has two years remaining on his contract with base salaries of $18.5 million and $18 million. No guaranteed money remains, according to NFL.com.
Adams pointed out to Brown that his Bengals, Chiefs and Ravens teams are 3-0 against the Giants during Lawrenceās career. That didnāt change how Brown perceives the defensive tackle.
āHe definitely would make our football team better,ā Brown said. āAnd, to be honest, thereās not a lot of teams he wouldnāt make better. Heās a special talent. ā¦ I got a ton of respect for him and his game.ā
The Bengals have been mentioned as a landing spot for Lawrence. āPairing Lawrence with free-agent veteran Jonathan AllenĀ would immediately upgrade a problem area for Cincyās defense a year ago,ā NFL.comās Kevin Patra wrote.
The Giants drafted Lawrence 17th overall out of Clemson in the 2019 NFL Draft. He earned second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors after the 2022 and 2023 seasons and added a third Pro Bowl nod in 2024.
However, Lawrenceās numbers dipped in 2025. In 17 starts, he recorded career lows in tackles (31) and sacks (0.5). Lawrenceās four tackles for loss represented the second-fewest of his career.
Q&A
Why should the Bengals trade for Dexter Lawrence?
Orlando Brown Jr. believes Dexter Lawrence would significantly strengthen the Bengals' defense, which ranked 31st in the NFL last season.
What are the Bengals' plans for the upcoming NFL draft?
The Bengals are expected to select a pass rusher, linebacker, or defensive back with their 10th pick in the first round of the NFL draft.
How much cap space do the Bengals have for potential trades?
The Cincinnati Bengals have approximately $20 million in cap space available, allowing them to make significant moves, including a trade for Dexter Lawrence.
