The Cincinnati Bengals made one of many largest moves of the spring when they acquired defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II from the New York Giants for the No. 10 choice within the 2026 draft.
Lawrence has not but performed in a significant sport together with his present employer, however it seems like he was nearly as good as marketed from the Bengals’ first apply of coaching camp via the group’s remaining preseason contest.
Dexter Lawrence II has Bengals protection “constructing confidence” forward of Week 1
“If he isn’t making the play, it is in all probability as a result of there’s 4 palms on him,” Bengals line of defense coach Jerry Montgomery advised Ben Baby of ESPN about Lawrence. “If there’s 4 palms on him, there’s folks working free. So now you have got different guys making performs after which constructing confidence as a protection.”
When at his finest with the Giants, Lawrence was arguably the league’s prime inside lineman. Nevertheless, he suffered an elbow harm within the fall of 2024, and he then endured the worst statistical season of his profession throughout what turned his remaining marketing campaign as a Huge Blue participant.
Dexter Lawrence II embracing a contemporary begin
Whereas with the Giants from 2019 via final season, Lawrence played in simply two playoff video games and one postseason victory. He now’s a part of a Bengals group that made a number of offseason moves to bolster its protection and that options quarterback Joe Burrow, who is not hiding that he needs “to win the Tremendous Bowl” as quickly as this coming February.
“You get an power enhance if you go to a brand new group,” Bengals heart Ted Karras added about Lawrence. “I believe he is excited for a contemporary begin, and he is been every little thing we might ever have imagined to anchor our protection.”
A number of reports from the primary a number of months of 2026 recommended that Burrow might ask for a commerce if the Bengals miss the playoffs for a fourth straight yr. Nevertheless, Lawrence might assist be certain that Burrow fortunately continues to name Cincinnati house if the Bengals notch no less than one postseason victory this winter.
Lawrence and the new-look Bengals protection will try to make issues tough for the offense of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when Cincinnati opens its common season on Sept. 13.
