Giants’ Dexter Lawrence Requests Trade
Dexter Lawrence remains under contract with the Giants, but that may not be the case for much longer. The Pro Bowl defensive tackle has requested a trade, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
Lawrence will not attend New York’s offseason program, per Schefter. Since the Giants are among the teams which made a head coaching change this winter, their program will begin Tuesday. Lawrence will remain absent as an indication of his displeasure over the status of extension talks. Depending on how long it lasts, this action will cost him his $500K workout bonus, Dan Duggan of The Athletic notes.
[RELATED: Reasons Behind Lawrence’s Request Emerge]
Schefter adds contract negotiations have not yielded progress, and colleague Jordan Raanan confirms Lawrence “has not been happy for quite some time.” As things stand, two years remain on the 28-year-old’s contract. Lawrence is owed $20MM in 2026 and another $22MM the following season. The guaranteed money on his pact has run out, however, creating the need for a fresh round of extension talks.
GM Joe Schoen said in February negotiations would commence in Lawrence’s case. He also stated no serious consideration would be given to a trade, a reasonable stance given the Clemson product’s importance to New York’s defensive front. Lawrence was the subject of calls leading up to the 2025 trade deadline, but no deal was ever imminent. It will be interesting to see if things play out differently with the draft approaching.
Lawrence stood out with 7.5 sacks in 2022, and he set a new career high two seasons later with nine. In between those two years, a $22.5MM-per-year extension was worked out. The 2023 offseason saw several big-ticket defensive tackle contracts agreed to, and Lawrence fell in line with several other top producers at the time. Conversations on a new multiyear agreement did not produce an agreement last offseason, so a temporary fix was worked out. Incentives were added to Lawrence’s deal, but a lingering elbow injury resulted in a down year with respect to his production (0.5 sacks, 12 QB pressures).
Given that drop-off in statistical output, the Giants may be hard-pressed to arrive at a new figure which satisfies Lawrence’s asking price. The former first-rounder is tied for 11th in the NFL in terms of average annual value for defensive tackle contracts, and the position’s market has jumped since his last deal was signed. Given today’s update, at least, there is plenty of work to be done if a contract agreement is to be reached at any point this offseason. Failing any traction on that front, interest from outside suitors will no doubt pick up during the lead-in to the draft.
A second-team All-Pro in 2022 and ’23, Lawrence has been a full-time presence on defense since arriving in 2019. The former first-rounder enjoyed a long spell of impactful play against the pass, though his production from this past year could limit the willingness of at least some outside teams to part with draft capital and commit to an extension. On the other hand, New York’s depth along the defensive line aside from Lawrence is seen as a weakness. Moving on before or after the draft would create even more of a need on the interior as the Giants aim to take a needed step forward on defense in 2026.
The Giants are near the bottom of the NFL in terms of spending power at the moment. Reducing Lawrence’s 2026 cap hit ($26.96MM) would help in that regard, but an extension is clearly not imminent. Any trade processed before June 1 would generate roughly even figures in terms of cap savings and dead money charges. A swap after that date, by contrast, would give New York $20MM in savings while resulting in $6.96MM in dead money.
Jets Interested In Jordyn Tyson; WR’s Stock Falling?
The Jets are the subject of considerable interest leading up to the draft. The owners of the No. 2 selection will be worth watching closely given the fact they have a mid-round pick on Day 1 as well.
An edge rush addition with the second overall pick has long been seen as a logical course of action for New York. The Jets were reported over the weekend to be favoring Ohio State hybrid linebacker/pass rusher Arvell Reese, which comes as no surprise. Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post echoes the sentiment that Reese will likely be the team’s preferred target at No. 2.
With respect to the 16th overall selection, there is of course much less certainty regarding how the Jets will operate. The team could go in a number of directions with several positions of need worthy of consideration, but receiver could be one to watch. According to Dunleavy, the Jets’ top choice at No. 16 could be Jordyn Tyson.
Tyson is among the best WR prospects in the 2026 class, one touted more for its depth than its star power at the top of the board. The Arizona State product declared for the draft in December, beginning the process of projecting where he will wind up in the NFL. That has been more challenging than it has with some of Tyson’s peers due to his injury situation. A hamstring ailment limited him to nine games in 2025; Tyson also missed considerable time in 2023.
When on the field, the former Colorado transfer has been highly productive. Tyson posted 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns on 75 catches during the 2024 campaign, and he remained a key member of the Sun Devils’ offense when healthy this past season. Tyson has long been viewed as a first-round lock, although he may need to wait longer than first anticipated to hear his name called on the opening night of the draft. ESPN’s Matt Miller writes Tyson’s stock is “trending in the wrong direction” at this time, with injury concerns being raised by NFL evaluators. After missing Arizona State’s Pro Day, he is set to conduct a private workout for teams on April 17.
The Jets have Garrett Wilson atop their receiver depth chart, and the former first-rounder will be expected to lead the way in the passing game for 2026 and beyond. New York added Adonai Mitchell as part of the Sauce Gardner trade, and he has two years remaining on his rookie contract. The team invested a fourth-round pick during last year’s draft in Arian Smith; the second-year duo of general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn could add further at the position later this month. It will be interesting to see if Tyson finds himself on New York’s radar over the coming days.
Dolphins Informed Malik Willis Of Jaylen Waddle Trade Before Deal Became Official
The Dolphins’ receiving corps does not look like it did when Malik Willis committed to Miami. The Broncos now have Jaylen Waddle in place as a Bo Nix weapon, strengthening a long-Courtland Sutton-reliant skill-position corps while depleting the Dolphins’ offense.
Miami dealt Waddle to Denver eight days after Willis committed to follow Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley to South Beach. While the new Dolphins GM could not exactly inform Willis a trade was imminent when the team gave him a three-year deal worth $67MM, the new Miami starting QB did receive advance notice shortly before Waddle was dealt.
“I’m not going to ever make it a habit to call and feel like I need to explain myself to players in the locker room for the moves that I’m going to make. That’s not how this position works,” Sullivan said, via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson. “I think they would respect me less if I did. I’m going to do what I think is right for the Miami Dolphins, not what a player or players want me to do.”
While this is not exactly Kirk Cousins not being informed the Falcons were eyeing a quarterback at No. 8 overall, Willis certainly has a different picture of the Dolphins’ receiving corps compared to when he signed. The Dolphins had released Tyreek Hill when they added Willis, but Waddle was in place as the team’s top wideout. After deploying an elite Hill-Waddle tandem for three-plus seasons, Miami now may have the NFL’s worst receiver array.
The Dolphins will surely address the position in the draft, but the rebuilding team has a few other needs that could warrant a first-round investment. The team rosters holdover Malik Washington to go with midlevel free agency additions Tutu Atwell and Jalen Tolbert. Both players enjoyed inconsistent tenures with their initial NFL clubs, while Washington (317 receiving yards, three touchdowns in Year 2) does not profile as a No. 1 target.
We heard last month Miami did not aggressively shop Waddle, and Sullivan confirmed (via the Herald’s Omar Kelly) that was the case. Kelly labeled the Broncos as “persistent” in pursuing the speedy wideout, whom Denver also looked into before last year’s deadline. The Broncos traded Nos. 30, 94 and 130 for Waddle and No. 111. This gives the Dolphins additional first- and third-round selections as they attempt to launch another rebuild.
“Whenever you’re sitting in this seat you always bite your lip when you see good players walk about the door, for whatever reason they leave,” Sullivan said. “Waddle is 27 years old. We’re in an era where the market for receivers is through the roof.”
Not much criticism has come either team’s way for this move, with the Dolphins extracting considerable value for a player who has not eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards since 2023. Waddle did begin his career 3-for-3 in 1,000-yard seasons and offers a versatile skillset the Broncos had lacked during Nix’s first two seasons. Denver is certainly betting on Waddle upside shown earlier in his career, with the ex-Patrick Surtain college teammate set to team with Sutton to form a strong receiving duo in Nix’s third (and likely final) season on a rookie contract.
The Dolphins, who went through with an aggressive rebuild in 2019, will now have two first-rounders and four thirds in this draft. The team obtained the other two by dealing Jaelan Phillips to the Eagles at the 2025 deadline and sending a fourth-round pick to Houston during the 2025 draft; the Texans traded the 2026 third to draft Woody Marks 116th overall last year. With seven picks over the first three rounds, Sullivan has plenty to work with ahead of his first draft as a GM. He also has a lot of work to do to help a roster desperate for young talent.
Miami CB Keionte Scott Visits Texans, Bears, Dolphins
With most NFL defenses now using nickel personnel for a majority of their snaps, slot cornerback has essentially become a starting position. That bodes well for Miami’s Keionte Scott, who recently completed pre-draft visits with the Texans, Bears, and Dolphins, according to KRPC2’s Aaron Wilson.
The 24-year-old is viewed as a pro-ready nickel after a standout 2025 season. He contributed to the Hurricanes’ defense across the board with 64 tackles (13 for loss), five sacks, five passes defended, two forced fumbles, and two recoveries. Scott also returned both of his interceptions for touchdowns and was the only player in the FBS with multiple pick-sixes.
The Texans appear to be set in the slot with safety Jalen Pitre, who has played his best football as a nickel in the past two years. Scott is currently expected to be drafted on Day 2, so Houston may not want to use a premium pick on a potential redundancy. But adding a viable second slot could allow DeMeco Ryans to run more dime packages with both Pitre and Scott capable of playing bigger than their size in the run game.
The Bears will be hoping that Kyler Gordon can make a strong return to his role as their starting nickel after dealing with injuries in 2025. Scott would serve as an insurance policy if Gordon – who has never played more than 14 games in a season – were to miss more time. But Chicago just signed the 2022 second-rounder to an extension last year, so Scott’s long-term role would be unclear unless one of the two were to move to the boundary.
The Dolphins, who hosted Scott on a local visit, might be the most logical option. Few teams need help at cornerback more, especially in the slot. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Miami’s primary nickel last year, was traded to the Jets, and 2025 fifth-round Jason Marshall struggled mightily as a rookie. Scott could contribute on Day 1 for a Dolphins defense that badly needs starting-caliber talent in the secondary.
Steelers, Jets Eyeing Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr.
Omar Cooper Jr. is generating significant pre-draft buzz, with the Steelers and the Jets among the teams with interest in the Indiana wide receiver.
Cooper has been a steady riser throughout the pre-draft process and now finds himself as a potential first-round pick after visits to the Panthers, Browns, and Cowboys. He is also “in play” for the Steelers’ first-round pick (No. 21 overall), per Essentially Sports’ Tony Pauline, with the Jets considering him with the first of their two second-rounders.
Seen as an NFL-ready slot receiver, Cooper would fill major needs in Pittsburgh and New York. The Steelers specifically need his skillset on the inside. Trading for Michael Pittman Jr. created a strong boundary duo with D.K. Metcalf, but neither spends much time in the slot. The Steelers instead used tight ends Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith to fill those snaps, but new head coach Mike McCarthy will be looking to run more three-receiver sets. His current depth options of Roman Wilson and Ben Skrowonek do not profile as true No. 3 receivers in his scheme.
That requires a true slot, and Cooper could fit the bill. He lined up in the slot for more than 80% of his snaps in 2025 and ranked 17th in yards and 30th in catches in that alignment nationwide, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He also forced 27 missed tackles after the catch, the fourth-most in the FBS, with just five drops on 155 targets in the last three years. The former quality will be especially beneficial to a Steelers receiver room that forced just 18 missed tackles in 2025. Metcalf and Pittman are also both 29 years old, so Cooper would represent the long-term future of the unit.
The Jets have a similar, albeit younger, one-two punch leading their receiving corps in Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell. Both primarily line up on the outside, again creating a natural fit for Cooper in the slot. New York’s need at receiver is dire enough to use one of their two first-round picks on the position, but the No. 2 pick seems to be earmarked for an edge rusher.
Carnell Tate and Makai Lemon, the consensus top two receiver prospects, will likely be gone by the time the Jets are back on the clock at 16. Cooper would be a solid fallback option for the 33rd pick, if he falls that far.
LSU CB Mansoor Delane Visiting Dolphins, Giants
Mansoor Delane is becoming an increasingly popular name in the workout circuit. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the LSU cornerback is visiting with the Dolphins tonight and tomorrow before meeting with the Giants on Wednesday and Thursday.
Delane has established himself as one of the (if not the) best cornerback prospect in this year’s draft. The defensive back had a breakout campaign at Virginia Tech in 2024, when he finished with four interceptions and seven passes defended. He was a popular name in the transfer portal ahead of the 2025 campaign, and he ultimately landed with LSU.
After being responsible for seven touchdowns allowed in 2024, Delane significantly improved on that number during his lone season with the Tigers. Pro Football Focus didn’t credit him with a single touchdown allowed in 2025, and the prospect finished his senior year with a pair of interceptions and 11 passes defended. Delane’s 4.38 40-yard dash time at his Pro Day cemented him as a premier cornerback prospect in this year’s draft, and he’ll likely be competing with Jermod McCoy to be the first player selected at the position.
After being connected to the Cowboys last month, Delane is now adding two more definitive suitors to his list. The Giants will have the first crack at the cornerback with their number-five selection, and with most pundits placing the LSU prospect in the top-10 of mock drafts, it wouldn’t be much of a reach. The team lost recent starter Cor’Dale Flott via free agency, but they brought in Greg Newsome to a grouping that includes holdovers like Paulson Adebo, Dru Phillips, and Deonte Banks. Delane would add a major influx of talent to that CBs room.
Plus, John Harbaugh has never been afraid to use a first-round pick on defensive backs, although he never picked this high during his Baltimore tenure. Still, during the coach’s 18 seasons with the Ravens, the organization used six first-round selections on cornerbacks or safeties.
There’s a chance Delane could fall to the Dolphins at No. 11, and the team may be doing their due diligence in case that scenario comes to fruition. Miami has put in some work to remake their cornerbacks corps this offseason. Jack Jones and Rasul Douglas remain unsigned, leaving Jason Marshall, JuJu Brents, and Storm Duck as the most notable returning players from last year’s squad.
Meanwhile, the front office has brought in the likes of Darrell Baker, Marco Wilson, and Alex Austin to soak up some of the snaps. Delane would instantly leap to the top of the depth chart in Miami, and in a clear rebuilding year, the team may ultimately opt for the best player available with the first of their two first-round selections.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/6/26
Today’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: TE Brenden Bates, WR Malachi Corley, LB Winston Reid, LS Rex Sunahara, K Andre Szmyt, WR Jamari Thrash
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: C Will Putnam
New York Giants
- Waived: WR Da’Quan Felton, S Patrick McMorris, CB TJ Moore, CB Myles Purchase
A handful of exclusive rights free agents re-upped with their respective teams today, as the Browns and Raiders transactions exclusively featured these types of contracts.
Meanwhile, the Giants cleared some room off their offseason roster today. Patrick McMorris is the only player with any NFL experience, as the safety got into six games with the Dolphins in 2024, with 97 of his 105 snaps coming on special teams.
Despite Interest, Giants Not Expected To Trade Dexter Lawrence
Despite Dexter Lawrence‘s trade request, most NFL teams are not expecting him to leave New York, per SNY’s Connor Hughes.
That is not for a lack of suitors. Clubs inquired about the star defensive tackle at the 2025 trade deadline, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic, and interest is expected to increase. But the Giants resisted those overtures and will likely set a high price – potentially prohibitively so – in any upcoming talks.
Assessments around the league vary. The obvious trade comparable is Quinnen Williams, whom the Jets sent to Dallas last October for a first-round pick, a second-round pick, and DT Mazi Smith. Some even believe that Lawrence is a better player and potentially worth even more, according to Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post.
The key difference is between the two is that Williams was not seeking a new contract. Lawrence would need a new deal, with a $35MM-per-year price tag floated by Hughes. That would seem a semi-outlandish ask, given that Chris Jones‘ $31.75MM-per-year number leads all DTs by more than $5MM. This lofty potential price tag, along with a down year in 2025, could drop Lawrence’s trade value closer to the following proposals Hughes has heard from other teams: a late 2026 first-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick, or second- and fifth-round picks.
If those are the best offers the Giants can get, it is unlikely they end up moving Lawrence. New head coach John Harbaugh prioritized strong defensive line play in Baltimore, and his current roster is awfully thin at the position. Sure, the draft picks acquired and cap space freed up via a Lawrence trade could help the Giants find replacements, but Harbaugh intends to turn the team around right away. Moving Lawrence would run contrary to that goal.
Lawrence can still try to force his way out of New York. The 28-year-old has grown frustrated with the Giants’ repeated losing seasons, per Dunleavy, as well as a hardline roster approach that resulted in teammates and friends like Leonard Williams, Julian Love, and Saquon Barkley not only leaving New York but finding success and Super Bowls elsewhere.
A willingness to accept an annual salary between $26MM and $30MM could help facilitate an exit. That more reasonable sum – as opposed to a market-resetting $35MM AAV – would still make him the second-highest-paid DT in the league, but as a price point that could encourage teams to move a first-round-plus package.
Texans Host CB Martin Emerson Jr.
After missing the entire 2025 campaign, Martin Emerson Jr. is eyeing a new team for his comeback season. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the free agent cornerback visited the Texans today.
Emerson emerged as a key defender during his time with the Browns. The 2022 third-round pick got into at least 70 percent of his team’s defensive snaps in each of his three healthy seasons. This culminated in a 2024 campaign where he started 15 of his 17 appearances.
His best statistical season came in 2023, when he finished with four interceptions and 14 passes defended, with PFF grading him 61st among 128 qualifying cornerbacks. While he was basically a full-time starter in 2024, PFF only ranked him 113th among 117 qualifiers.
Emerson was heading into the final season of his rookie contract in 2025. Unfortunately, he suffered a torn Achilles during training camp that ended his season before it began.
The 25-year-old could have a chance to revive his career in Houston. The Texans could use some depth behind Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter. 2025 third-round pick Jaylin Smith is currently penciled in for that key backup role, although he’s coming off a rookie campaign that ended early thanks to a torn meniscus.
Raiders Sign QB Kirk Cousins
APRIL 6: The move is official, as the Raiders have announced the signing.
APRIL 2: The Raiders’ interest in Kirk Cousins has indeed produced an agreement. A deal is in place, agent Mike McCartney announced on Thursday.
Vegas was identified yesterday as a suitor in Cousins’ case. The team remains on course to select Fernando Mendoza first overall in this month’s draft, but adding veteran insurance has been a goal this offseason. Head coach Klint Kubiak recently noted his preference for having Mendoza sit at the beginning of his NFL career, pointing to a signing such as this.
[RELATED: Details On Raiders’ Cousins Agreement]
Cousins has been on the market since his long-expected Falcons release. The four-time Pro Bowler did not wind up being traded during the 2025 offseason, setting up a second campaign in Atlanta. Cousins still wound up making eight starts this past season despite Michael Penix Jr. opening the year atop the depth chart. The Falcons proceeded with a cut in Cousins’ case, ending his tenure with the team halfway through a four-year, $160MM contract. Penix and Tua Tagovailoa will compete for the QB1 gig in Atlanta this summer.
No such training camp battle should be anticipated in Vegas given today’s news. Cousins will be tasked with handling starting duties while Mendoza begins his NFL acclimation period. A stint atop the depth chart at some point during the 2026 campaign can of course be expected for the Heisman winner, considering the timeline along which rookie quarterbacks enter the lineup in the modern NFL. For now, though, Cousins will prepare for a period where he is positioned to lead an offense.
Vegas traded for Geno Smith last offseason, reuniting him with head coach Pete Carroll. Nothing went according to plan on offense in 2025, though, and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly did not last the full season. It came as no surprise when Carroll was fired immediately after the campaign ended, nor when it became clear Smith would not return for 2026. He was traded to the Jets, creating the need for a veteran acquisition. Cousins, who will be 38 by the start of next season, certainly fits the bill.
Prior to today’s Raiders agreement, the Packers, Rams and Steelers had been linked to Cousins. Each of those teams could stand to add an experienced passer to their depth chart, with Pittsburgh’s QB1 role uncertain until Aaron Rodgers‘ decision on his playing future is made. The backup spots in Green Bay and Los Angeles, meanwhile, will need to be filled by another free agent or a draft pick.
Cousins’ six-year Vikings tenure came to an abrupt end when he suffered an Achilles tear midway through the 2023 season. His preference would have been to remain in Minnesota, but the potential for a multiyear starting spot in Atlanta led to his free agent departure. Things changed unexpectedly when Penix was drafted shortly thereafter, and Cousins was replaced atop the Falcons’ depth chart late in his debut season with the team. In all, he made 22 starts with Atlanta and posted several numbers below his career average while totaling 28 touchdown passes and 21 interceptions.
Expectations will be tempered upon arrival in Vegas for Cousins as a result. He is already owed $10MM from the Falcons for 2026, however, so this deal may not require a major financial commitment on the part of the Raiders.