The Cincinnati Bengals didn't wait for the draft to fix their defense. They went out and got their guy early. Cincinnati acquired defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence from the New York Giants in April, sending the 10th overall pick in this week's draft to New York to get the deal done.
The Bengals also handed Lawrence a one-year $28 million extension, making it a significant investment for a unit that has needed serious help for a while now.
At 340 pounds, Lawrence brings the kind of size that changes how an offense approaches the line of scrimmage. His ability to eat up blockers keeps linebackers clean and gives the defense a different look up front. He managed just 0.5 sacks in 2025 but his 13.5 sacks across 2023 and 2024 show what he's capable of when things are clicking.
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Why Dexter Lawrence Makes Everyone Better in Cincinnati
The excitement inside Cincinnati is real, and few people are feeling it more than veteran defensive tackle B.J. Hill. The two go back further than football. Hill's children call Lawrence their godfather and just days before the move was finalized, Lawrence was at Hill's North Carolina home.
On Sunday, Hill flew to Cincinnati alongside Lawrence, his wife Donna, and their seven-month-old daughter Nella. That trip alone says a lot about where these two stand.
Hill didn't need much time to explain what Lawrence means for this defense.
"His personality, who he is outside of football. He's a great human being. I just love being around him," Hill said, via the team's official site. "He makes everybody's job easier. Mine. (Jonathan) Allen's. Defensive ends. Linebackers. Safeties. Even the defensive coordinator's. Having him in the room is a plus, for sure."
There was real logic behind moving before the draft. Sitting at pick 10 always carries risk especially when top defensive talent tends to fly off the board early. The Bengals chose certainty over the unknown and given where this team is right now that makes sense.
Cincinnati has missed the playoffs three straight years and defensive inconsistency has been at the center of it each time. Joe Burrow is in his prime and the front office knows the window won't stay open forever.
Landing Lawrence before the draft even begins is a sign the Bengals are done being patient about fixing what's been broken.
