For any Buffalo Bills fans that wanted Brandon Beane to pull off a massive blockbuster trade for star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, that will no longer be happening. After days of reported contract drama between Lawrence and the New York Giants, Ian Rapoport reported that the Giants are trading Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals in a trade that will include the Giants getting the 10th overall pick.
#Giants star Dexter Lawrence is being traded to the #Bengals in a pre-Draft blockbuster that includes the No. 10 pick heading to the Giants, per me and @MikeGarafolo.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 19, 2026
NYG gets premium draft compensation, Cincy gets a lynchpin, while Sexy Dexy gets a new, big-money extension. pic.twitter.com/u807BevKxV
It was just a few days ago that it seemed like Lawrence and the Giants were not going to get a deal done and when it was reported, that is when the Bills should have been picking up the phone immediately to call the Giants and work out a deal to bring in the star defender.
With Lawrence being traded to Cincinnati, the Bengals just got stronger before the draft. Even though giving up a Top 10 draft pick might be a steep price, any player that they would have drafted would not have been as impactful as Lawrence will now be on their defense.
Cincinnati acquiring Lawrence now gives Buffalo another potential problem in the AFC, especially when you consider that Cincinnati has recently had Buffalo’s number. Even though the Bills beat the Bengals last season in December, it took miraculous interceptions in order to get the win at home. Now, Cincinnati gets stronger while Buffalo still remains with tons of need to fill.
Bills see Bengals get stronger with Dexter Lawrence acquisition
The Bills struggled to stop the run last year and now that they are switching to a 3-4 defense, they are going to need someone who can plug up the middle. Even though defensive tackle is not the biggest need for the Bills, if they were to acquire Lawrence it would have surely taken care of a major problem on defense.
With Buffalo having a late first round pick and not having a pick after that until late in the third round, they are in a very tough spot to fill up their roster needs. While trading for Lawrence would have limited them even more in the draft, he would have easily been the best player out of any rookie that the Bills would draft.
The Super Bowl window is open for the Bills and this is the time to go all-in for it. Instead, there is a chance where if Buffalo and Cincinnati meet in the playoffs, the Bills will have to prepare for Lawrence who can wreck a game at any time.
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