A big-time defensive lineman wants out of New York—but he doesn’t hail from the team in green.

Instead, it’s Giants star Dexter Lawrence who has reportedly requested a trade, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Lawrence will not be attending the team’s offseason workout program that begins on Tuesday.

The Giants are among the teams holding an April workout program due to the hiring of a new head coach. New York hired John Harbaugh to lead the organization.

Lawrence, 28, is entering the third year of a four-year, $90 million extension that he signed with the Giants ahead of the 2023 season, which began in 2024 and runs through the 2027 season. Since Lawrence signed the deal, the defensive tackle market has exploded, pushing Lawrence’s $22.5 million salary down to the 11th-highest at the position.

With Lawrence being a three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro who some consider to be the league’s best defensive tackle, it is easy to understand why “Sexy Dexy” wants a new deal that puts his name back atop the list of highest-paid players at his position.

Should the Giants’ crosstown rivals pounce on the opportunity?

Jets’ chances of acquiring Dexter Lawrence

This would not be the first time in the last 10 years that the Jets and Giants executed a trade involving a first-round defensive lineman. Midway through the 2019 season, the Jets sent Leonard Williams to the Giants for a third-round pick and a fifth-round pick.

It is also worth noting that Jets general manager Darren Mougey has been one of the NFL’s most active traders since he took over the position in 2025, completing 12 trades involving players.

Given the franchises’ proven willingness to deal with each other (especially regarding premium defensive linemen) and Mougey’s high level of activity on the trade market, it is not far-fetched to think that the Jets will at least give the Giants a call about Lawrence.

This is especially true because the Jets have a need for a player like him.

The Jets have a deep defensive tackle unit, highlighted by Jowon Briggs, T’Vondre Sweat, David Onyemata, and Harrison Phillips. However, since trading Quinnen Williams last year, the unit lacks a star to demand attention from opposing defenses (although Briggs has the potential to be that player). Lawrence could fill that void, raising the Jets’ defensive ceiling to a new level.

But would the Jets be willing to pay the price it takes to acquire Lawrence, from both a cap space and draft capital standpoint?

Lawrence is likely seeking to become the highest-paid defensive tackle in the NFL. Chris Jones currently holds the top contract at five years, $158.8 million ($31.8 million per year). Jones has a wide advantage over the second-ranked contract, Milton Williams’ four-year, $104 million deal ($26 million per year), so Lawrence may settle for the No. 2 spot behind Jones.

On top of that, the Giants will likely use the Jets’ own Quinnen Williams trade as the barometer for a trade package. Williams netted a first-round pick (which will be the better of Dallas’ and Green Bay’s) and a second-round pick from the Dallas Cowboys. He then signed a four-year, $96 million deal with Dallas ($24 million per year)

Essentially, the Jets would be reversing the Williams deal, simply swapping out Lawrence for Williams. They are similarly dominant players who are the same age and come from the same draft class.

So… what’d be the point of the Williams trade, then?

While New York has the need for Lawrence and the assets to make an aggressive push, it would not make any sense to cancel out one of the foundational trades that put the Jets in the extremely favorable rebuilding position they currently find themselves in.