Blockbuster trade kicks off draft week with Dexter Lawrence a Bengal

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Yes, the Giants shipped the three-time Pro Bowler to Cincinnati this weekend. That means the Ravens, who fired Harbaugh earlier this year, get to see him twice each year. Inside: What’s next after an uncharacteristic blockbuster trade by the Bengals and Giants, plus why Houston paid Will Anderson Jr. (and probably should pay C.J. Stroud, too). Let’s go. This article is from The Athletic’s NFL newsletter. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox. New York added the No. 10 pick in Thursday’s draft in exchange for the disgruntled 28-year-old defensive tackle, who had skipped the team’s voluntary offseason workouts amid a contract dispute. It’s a strong return for a young team that now picks twice in the top 10. And since such an early pick was traded right before the draft, sports media law mandates The Athletic put together part of a new mock immediately. We obliged. Here’s draft expert Nick Baumgardner’s updated top 10 (and assuming you need more, Dane Brugler’s seven-rounder is otherwise still applicable): First, I know what you’re thinking. I noticed it too. FOUR Buckeyes in the top 10, yet Ohio State didn’t make college football’s National Championship game, let alone win it. What happened?! I asked my editor Jason Kirk, who also writes our popular college football newsletter, Until Saturday. He explained … 💬 “The Buckeyes were as talented as ever, which is saying a lot. But due to Arch Manning’s Week 1 jitters, Penn State’s collapse and Michigan being underwhelming, they were lightly tested until their final two games — which happened to be against the national title game’s participants. “In a Big Ten championship loss, they played a veteran-heavy Indiana as well as anybody did, but their offensive line had a horrible matchup against a Miami defense that just looked irate for that entire quarterfinal.” Where were we? Oh right, the move that might provide the Giants with Caleb Downs, one of those Buckeyes. Like every other two-team trade, there are several implications. Deals contain multitudes. 1. It’s a win-win on draft day. New York combines a promising young core of quarterback Jaxson Dart, receiver Malik Nabers and edge Abdul Carter with two top-10 rookies. Meanwhile, the Bengals avoid having to draft a defender in the first round. (They have been very bad at that.) 2. A Giant loss. It’s hard to overstate how badly Harbaugh’s defense will miss the 340-pounder, a one-of-one talent who’s drawn double teams about as regularly as anyone. The league’s worst rushing defense is now without its best run defender, and Dan Duggan sees a bleak replacement market. Also, I’m not convinced Lawrence is in a state of decline: 3. A giant gained. It’s stunning to see Cincinnati make a splash trade and meet Lawrence’s contract demands immediately. Our Bengals reporter, Paul Dehner Jr., put it best in that story: “These are the Bengals. They haven’t moved up in the first round since 1995. They treat draft picks and the controllable, cheap labor they represent like gold bars. They make headlines in the offseason because of contract fights.” Paul spoke to people associated with the team on Saturday night, hearing “laughs defined by some mix of disbelief, excitement and relief.” It’s a win for Cincinnati, New York and the Lawrence household; he agreed to a one year, $28 million extension after the move. But that’s nothing compared to the Anderson household … Late last week, the Texans and Will Anderson agreed to a three-year extension worth $150 million. You know what comes next: He’s now the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. I’ve written that sentence a lot. Each of these highlighted players has held the title, and that’s excluding predecessors like Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby and Justin Jefferson: Hard to argue with any of those signings. The 24-year-old Anderson is no different. Since he was drafted in 2023, he has a first-team All Pro nod, made two Pro Bowls and won Defensive Rookie of the Year. In 2025, his pass-rush win rate — how often a pass rusher beats their block — ranked fourth among edge rushers in ESPN’s metric. He ranks 10th in quarterback pressures and 11th in sacks. He’s also a major plus in the run game, ranking eighth among edge rushers in run-stop win rate. It was an obvious decision for the Texans, who still have two years remaining on his rookie contract before this new money truly kicks in. The decision on whether to pay quarterback C.J. Stroud is much tougher. Also 24 years old, he has struggled to replicate the success of his rookie season in just about any metric you look at: On the other hand, Houston’s been … well, really good. In the three seasons prior to drafting him No. 2, the Texans went a combined 11-38-1. They’re since 32-19 with three consecutive playoff appearances under DeMeco Ryans. How much do you credit Stroud for that? I was in the press box for his four-turnover playoff loss to the Patriots. It was ugly. He felt pressure that wasn’t there, forced throws and missed layups. But when I went to their locker room post-game, I saw a team rallying around its guy. Houston exercised his fifth-year option in early April and has him under contract through 2027. Should the Texans extend him for the $50 million-plus that he’d demand on the open market? For a franchise whose all-time leader in every major passing category is Matt Schaub, an investment in Stroud seems wise to me. The well is not deep. 👀 Poll. We want to know how you watch the draft (if at all). Click here to participate. 👕 New threads. The Rams refreshed their uniforms (they look identical to me), while the Ravens introduced a new set with a beautiful matte-black helmet. Washington’s new uniforms might be the nicest. 🎧 Draft prep. When “The Athletic Football Show” says it has a one-hour Idiot’s Guide to the 2026 Draft, the idiot in question certainly isn’t you. 🏀 NBA playoffs. Wait, isn’t this a football newsletter? It is, but just in case you’re keeping an eye on the hoops postseason, I thought I’d share our expert predictions. Go Raps. 📓 In case you missed it. Matt Barrows’ behind-the-scenes look at the 49ers drafting “frat guy” prospect George Kittle is one of those “this is why I subscribe stories,” so I had to re-share it. Unlocked for you here. ▶️ Friday’s most-clicked: Dane’s seven-round, 257-pick mock draft. 📫 Enjoyed this read? Sign up here to receive The Athletic’s free NFL newsletter in your inbox.  Also, check out our other newsletters. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms