The Cincinnati Bengals made one of the biggest splashes of the offseason when they acquired former Clemson star and All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence from the New York Giants in exchange for the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
As part of the trade, the Bengals signed Lawrence to a one-year, $28 million contract extension, keeping him under contract with the team through the 2028 season.
Though he’s a newcomer to the team, Lawrence has already made a major impression and made his presence felt with a big locker room impact while actively mentoring younger players.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor is among those who’ve been very impressed by Lawrence. Taylor recently discussed his first impression of Lawrence and what “shocked” him – in a good way – upon Lawrence’s arrival.
“It has been an impact. I was shocked that he was here every day right after we traded for him, that he just chose to jump right in and not miss a day initially,” Taylor said. “I think that just shows – I hate to speak for him – but just the excitement he has to be here with these guys in the locker room.”
Taylor praised Lawrence’s personality and leadership.
“I had a chance to meet with him one-on-one several times,” Taylor said. “Love the personality. Because that’s something I don’t know until you really get to know the guy. But there’s certainly a level of excitement when the organization takes a swing on a guy like that and gives up the 10th pick in the draft and goes to get a known commodity that really has uplifted this locker room. Guys are excited to be around him, and he’s going to make everybody around him better.”
Former Clemson star linebacker Barrett Carter – now entering his second year with the Bengals after being drafted by the team in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft — also spoke glowingly about Lawrence.
“Everyone knows what he’s done on the field,” Carter said. “He’s a possible gold jacket guy. But the man that he is — the friend, the brother, the leader. Once he got here, it naturally elevated the whole locker room. When he talks, everybody listens.”
Despite a down 2025 season with the Giants, by his own lofty standards, there’s no doubt Lawrence has established himself as a dominant interior defensive line presence in the league.
Lawrence collected three straight Pro Bowl selections from 2022-24 and also earned All-Pro honors in the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He became the first Giants player to be voted to three straight Pro Bowls since safety Landon Collins from 2016-18, and if he hadn’t suffered a season-ending elbow injury in 2024, he could have very well earned his third consecutive All-Pro selection as well.
Heading into his eighth NFL season in 2026, Lawrence has racked up 341 total tackles, 40 tackles for loss and 30.5 sacks in 109 career games (102 starts) since being selected by the Giants in the first round (17th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft.
The Bengals will kick off the 2026 regular season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 13 at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.