If you asked most NFL analysts who is the better player between former New York Jets All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and former New York Giants All-Pro Dexter Lawrence, the conversation wouldn’t be close.

As strong as Williams was in green, the impact he had on the Jets’ defense was nowhere near as palpable as Lawrence’s impact on Big Blue, especially considering Lawrence was playing a different position on the interior.

That’s what made Saturday’s blockbuster trade so surprising.

Big Blue shipped Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals for the 10th overall pick in the upcoming 2026 NFL draft. By moving the Pro Bowl nose tackle, the Giants are essentially starting over with their core locker-room leadership, especially on defense.

But what made the Lawrence trade so surprising wasn’t the move itself—it was the resources brought back to the team.

Big Blue’s return highlights just how effectively the Jets handled the Williams trade.

Jets outdo Giants

Let’s be very clear: the Giants came away like bandits from the Lawrence trade. As good as the Clemson product has been throughout his seven-year run with the team, the G-Men could never build a consistently solid defense with him as a centerpiece.

Is that Lawrence’s fault? Of course not. But it highlights perhaps that the team would be better served looking for higher impact players at different positions.

Getting a top-10 pick in the upcoming draft can be seen as excellent asset management as well. New York saw Lawrence post a “down year” by his standards last season, with just half a sack and eight quarterback hits, the lowest numbers of his career on both counts.

Cincinnati’s willingness to part with a top 10 pick was shocking to some people in NFL circles. Yet, it wasn’t even the most exorbitant package given up for a defensive tackle in the last six months.

Much like Lawrence, Quinnen Williams did not play up to his personal standards with the Jets last season. Still, Gang Green was able to get a higher-ceiling package in their trade of Williams than the Giants got for Lawrence. Whereas the Giants received one first-round selection, the Jets received a 2027 first-round pick and a 2026 second-round pick.

Whether the Jets’ package amounts to more value than the Giants’ package depends on where the Jets’ 2027 first-round pick lands. The good news for the Jets is that they have two shots to land a high pick, as they will receive the better choice between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers.

So, which is better? Two premium draft picks, including a first-rounder in what is perceived as a stronger draft class, or a top 10 pick now?

For the Jets, the answer is clear. The team needs as much blue-chip talent as they can get, and they know they can acquire that in the 2027 draft. This doesn’t mean the Giants didn’t get strong assets for Lawrence; they clearly did.

But when it comes to getting the most they possibly could, the Jets and general manager Darren Mougey showcased better asset management than their crosstown counterparts.

Time will tell which team can make the most of those additional picks. As Hall-of-Fame coach Jimmy Johnson recently told the Jets, those picks mean nothing unless they can be turned into quality players.