Analysis: Could Seahawks Make a Run at Trading for Giants Star Dexter Lawrence?
During the heat of the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, with six picks until the team’s No. 21 overall selection, Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider, then-coach Pete Carroll, and every other staff member in attendance in the war room sat on pins and needles.
As if often the case during draft weekend, Schneider and company found themselves sweating things out with a coveted prospect still on the board in Clemson defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, who they hoped would fall to them to become the cornerstone of a rebuilt ‘Hawks defensive line. In several instances, including with receiver Jaxon Smith-Nijgba under similar circumstances in 2023, the franchise has lucked out with the desired prospect remaining available once they were on the clock.
But on this April day in 2023, good fortune would not be on Seattle’s side. The New York Giants prevented Schneider from landing his top target, selecting Lawrence 17th overall to abruptly end the dream. Two picks later, Denver selected Iowa tight end Noah Fant, another player that Schneider had a high grade on who would have been in play with pick No. 21.
Eight years later, just as Schneider previously did acquiring Fant as part of the blockbuster Russell Wilson deal with the Broncos in 2022, the Seahawks may now have a chance to rectify that ill-fated turn of events. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Lawrence has requested a trade from the Giants and will not report to the team’s offseason program after multiple years of failed attempts to negotiate a new contract.
