Players and coaches expressed excitement about the Cincinnati Bengals' acquisition of defensive end Dexter Lawrence from the New York Giants during Monday's offseason training session, two days after the blockbuster trade for the No. 10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The trade, which sent the three-time All-Pro to Cincinnati over the weekend, has energized a Bengals defense aiming to rebound from a poor 2025 season. Right tackle Amarius Mims said, 'Everybody's happy about it, everybody I talked to is happy about it.' Coach Zac Taylor described the energy from players' texts and calls as 'indescribable.'
Defensive lineman B.J. Hill, a former teammate, called Lawrence 'one of a kind' and said he will make everyone's job easier. Lawrence himself stated he wants to help young linebackers Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight by allowing them 'to flow and be comfortable.' Safety Jordan Battle praised Lawrence for creating chaos against double teams in both run and pass games. Orlando Brown highlighted the urgency with Joe Burrow in his prime, saying the front office understands the window for top players.
This acquisition caps a saga that began with Lawrence's trade request from the Giants, bolsters Cincinnati's revamped defensive line alongside recent additions, and sets the stage for high expectations ahead of the draft.
