Amid Dexter Lawrence-Giants uncertainty, John Harbaugh says ‘everybody’s tradable’

John Harbaugh expressed optimism in Dexter Lawrence’s future with the New York Giants. But amid a reported trade request from the three-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman, Harbaugh sent some mixed messages during Tuesday’s offseason activities for the club.

“We’ll find out,” Harbaugh said over Zoom. “I think the prospects are going to be high because the Giants, speaking for the Giants, we want Dexter here and I believe Dexter wants to be here and that's a good formula. But there's business involved. It's a business proposition. We know it's pro football. These things happen every year, pretty much on every team. So, not surprised by it.

“Saw it coming a few weeks back, probably.”

After Giants DL Dexter Lawrence's trade request, John Harbaugh confidence "high" Lawrence will be a Giant going forward.

"Because, speaking for the Giants, we want Dexter here," Harbaugh said. "And I believe Dexter wants to be here. That's a good formula." pic.twitter.com/TPE3KkUTFq

— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) April 7, 2026

Harbaugh said Lawrence’s agent, Joel Segal, has requested the Giants speak to Segal rather than Lawrence amid contract negotiations. But Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson each spoke with Lawrence after they were hired. Harbaugh nonetheless distinguished between this contract dispute and that of two-time MVP Lamar Jackson in 2022 given Harbaugh’s multi-year relationship with Jackson at the time.

Lawrence did not report to offseason activities with the Giants this week, but Harbaugh noted that absences do not need excusing at this time of year because offseason activities are voluntary, per the collective bargaining agreement.

But he did not downplay the uncertainty looming around Lawrence’s future with the Giants. Would New York grant Lawrence’s trade request?

“I don't know if granting a request is really the right way to say it because it doesn't really work that way,” Harbaugh said. “It's not like a Christmas gift. It just doesn't work like that. It's business. So the business is to be the best football team that we can be, and the business for him I'm sure is to be the best player he can be. And then there's financial obligations, restraints, opportunities, all those things that go around that …

“We'll see what happens.”

Giants DC Dennard Wilson spoke with Dexter Lawrence after taking Giants job.

"Opened the line of communications and he was in a good place," Wilson said. "For me personally, the organization, we understand the value of Dex, we love him & we understand the business side as well." pic.twitter.com/q1zbMMXxMu

— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) April 7, 2026

Since the Giants selected him in the first round, 17th overall, of the 2019 NFL Draft, Lawrence has started 102 games for the franchise, amassing 30.5 sacks, 341 tackles, 103 quarterback hits and five forced fumbles. He’s broken up 15 passes and last season secured his first interception.

Statistical data captures the production of interior defensive linemen less effectively than the production of any other position in the NFL, but Lawrence’s production nonetheless dropped last year.

He followed up a career-best nine sacks in 2024 with a career-low half a sack in 17 games during the 2025 season. Lawrence’s pass-rush win rate, per ESPN, registered at 8%, per ESPN’s advanced metric, while his run-stop win rate did not rank in the league’s top-10.

Pro Football Focus, which grades players but does not fully understand their assignments, graded Lawrence the ninth best interior defensive lineman last year after he ranked second a year prior and first in each 2022 and 2023. He remained an effective pass rusher, per PFF’s grade, ranking seventh but fell from second in run defense among interior defensive linemen to 56th.

Giants OC Matt Nagy on Dexter Lawrence: "Dexter’s a hell of a player. He’s been doing it a while. And a lot of respect for him. When we played him last year, we had to know where he was on every play.

"He’s a beast." pic.twitter.com/Jr3DoscIiq

— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) April 7, 2026

Harbaugh did not directly say the Giants would trade Lawrence. But when asked about Giants defensive lineman Kayvon Thibodeaux’s trade value, Harbaugh gave a surprising response that could influence Lawrence’s future as well.

“You want to talk about, well, is he a trade possibility? Everybody's tradable,” Harbaugh said. “Everybody. Even you're tradable, Dan [Duggan, who asked the question]. We will get something for you. We trade you in a heartbeat, man.

“But it's not really what you focus on. You focus on the fact that we're having a day. We're talking ball. Our team is coming together as a team.

“The business part of it is the business part, and that kind of swirls around us, but we try to lock in on the football.”