inside the giants Where the Dexter Lawrence trade leaves the Giants’ effort to rebuild their defense By Paul Schwartz Published April 22, 2026, 6:20 a.m. ET Dexter Lawrence meets with the media during his introduction as a member of the Bengals on April 20, 2026. AP AP It could be that by the end of the week, Dennard Wilson has at his disposal a new centerpiece to what he hopes will be a dynamic defense in his first year running the show for the Giants.
The cupboard the Giants’ new defensive coordinator inherited is not bare, but it is in need of restocking.
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There is one unquestioned area of strength — the edge rusher stable — and the feeling (at least as of last week) was the defensive front could be a special bunch, if disgruntled nose tackle Dexter Lawence got what he wanted (more money) and returned to the dominating ways that left him in 2025. Alas, that did not happen. Lawrence is now with the Bengals, the Giants got the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft in return and Wilson never will get to coach Big Dex.
That is not what Wilson signed up for, but that is what he must deal with. And without. Finding big, capable bodies on the interior of the defensive line is now a priority for the Giants.
