> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Analysis: Could Seahawks Make a Run at Trading for Giants Star Dexter Lawrence? - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/seattle-seahawks-make-run-dexter-lawrence-blockbuster-trade/ - Published: 2026-04-06T20:36:32.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T06:12:13.000Z - Author: Corbin Smith - Tags: Analysis, Seahawks, Dexter Lawrence, Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy II, Jarran Reed \[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="2421"\] ![ New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) celebrates following a fourth down sack against the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/new-york-giants-defensive-tackle-dexter-lawrence-ii--2897-29-celebrates-following-a-fourth-down-sack-against-the-seattle-seahawks-during-the-fourth-quarter-at-lumen-field--mandatory-credit-3a-joe-nicholson-imagn-images-format-original.jpg) New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II (97) celebrates following a fourth down sack against the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images \[/caption\] 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. With neither Lawrence or Fant on the board, Schneider feverously worked the phones seeking a trade partner to move down and add extra picks. The Packers answered the call, sending pick No. 30 and two fourth-round picks in return to slide up nine spots, using the acquired pick to select safety Darnell Savage. Meanwhile, the Seahawks - who had two first round picks thanks to the recent trade of pass rusher Frank Clark - selected defensive end L.J. Collier with the No. 29 overall pick and traded the acquired pick from Green Bay again for second, fourth, and fifth-round picks. Much to Schneider’s chagrin, Lawrence developed into the star and team captain that he thought he would in New York, earning two All-Pro and three Pro Bowl selections by the end of his sixth season. Collier, on the other hand, didn’t pan out at all, failing to generate a single sack in three of his four seasons in Seattle. Trading up for receiver DK Metcalf on Day 2 softened the blow a little bit, but there’s no question the renowned executive would have preferred his top target to somehow slip through the cracks rather than make a bunch of trades that mostly didn’t work out in the franchise’s favor. 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. Adding Lawrence to a stout defensive line already featuring long-time teammate Leonard “Big Cat” Williams, rising star Byron Murphy II, and underrated junkyard dog Jarran Reed would be a nightmare-inducing move for every other team in the NFL. As if Seattle needed another dynamic, disruptive interior defender to turn up the heat on quarterbacks and bury running backs in the backfield, coach Mike Macdonald would be bringing on board a multi-time All-Pro who has surpassed 30 pressures in five consecutive seasons along with five years of 20-plus tackles for loss and 15 career pass deflections. Last season, many opponents resorted to double teaming Williams, who withstood the extra attention to garner Second-Team All-Pro honors anyway with seven sacks and 22 quarterback hits. But with Lawrence added to the arsenal and Murphy on the cusp of being a superstar in his own right, teams would not be afforded the opportunity to make that decision anymore, as the term “pick your poison” wouldn’t even be sufficient regarding the conundrum opposing coordinators would have to deal with prepping for the group. Financially, the Seahawks have the flexibility to fit Lawrence into their budget for 2026 as well. Currently, per [OverTheCap.com](http://overthecap.com/?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com), they have north of $32 million in cap space, and the veteran defensive tackle would carry a $13 million cap charge in a pre-June 1 trade with the Giants absorbing the other $13 million as a dead cap hit. His cap hit would balloon to $28 million in the final year of his contract in 2027, which could - in theory - be massaged to an extent by an extension that could be negotiated next spring if the front office desired. And even though Seattle has only four picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, Schneider has never been averse to trading a late first round pick for a proven talent in his prime the caliber of Lawrence. Selecting a player who offers anywhere close to the same amount of impact at No. 32 overall would be highly unlikely, at least in the short-term. The franchise also has a projected 12 selections in the 2027 NFL Draft, giving Schneider extra ammunition to use if he’s not interested in dealing away from an already limited arsenal this year. But stepping away from the realm of fantasy, trying to execute a trade for Lawrence has plenty of complications that would make it seem like a pipe dream at best, starting with the aforementioned cost. Yes, Seattle could fit Lawrence into the budget this season. Quite easily, in fact. A $13 million cap charge stands as pocket change for a player of his talent, at least based on his production prior to 2026\. But Williams needs a new contract and assuming the beloved veteran isn’t intending to retire anytime soon, he should be the priority rather than throwing a bunch of money at a newcomer who wasn’t part of the recent run to a Super Bowl victory. In addition, cornerback Devon Witherspoon remains up for a massive extension and Murphy won’t be far behind him with a chance to negotiate his own new deal next spring. While one or both of those players may still fit on the payroll with Lawrence, trading for the high-priced disruptor along with signing him to a hefty extension inevitably would force a quality homegrown young player out in the future. Think AJ Barner or Nick Emmanwori wearing another uniform down the line. The other issue when it relates to the cost of acquiring Lawrence, both through draft capital and salary, lies with his diminished production last season. Still just 28 years old, it’s possible he simply endured a down season with only eight quarterback hits and a partial sack and a change of scenery to put him back with Williams on the defending champions would rejuvenate him. But the fact he produced such underwhelming numbers while starting all 17 games last year could also be a cautionary warning that his best football may already be behind him, making a lucrative extension a risky proposition regardless of past performance. When it comes to whether or not the Seahawks could orchestrate such a move, this isn’t necessarily a black or white type scenario. There are a lot of underlying factors that could go into play. If the franchise has an inkling that Williams may be considering walking away after his current contract expires, especially considering Reed will turn 34 in December and could be thinking about hanging up his cleats soon as well, trading for Lawrence would be one hell of a hedge for 2027 and beyond to pair with Murphy for the foreseeable future. If the Giants are willing to take a second or even a third-round pick to move him rather than stubbornly demanding a first rounder, the acquisition cost also would make it far more likely for Schneider to jump into the fray. With that said, at least from the outside as an observer, Williams doesn’t look anywhere close to being ready to retire. Reed still has some juice left as well, and quite frankly had better statistics than Lawrence in fewer games last season at a fraction of the cost. This isn’t to say that Lawrence couldn’t bounce back much closer to his phenomenal 2024 numbers when he nearly hit double digit sacks and eclipsed 20 tackles for loss. But starting with the return compensation and ending with the desired new contract, that would be an expensive gamble for Schneider to take without clear clarity on the future for Williams or Reed. Considering Schneider’s history of never leaving a stone unturned and the fact he has made moves to trade for or sign players that he loved in prior drafts such as Fant, Williams, and quarterback Sam Darnold, it would be unwise to completely dismiss the Seahawks as a suitor for Lawrence if the Giants truly make him available for trade. Still, at least at this time, it seems far more likely that the franchise will shift focus to extending Williams and Witherspoon, passing up on dealing for what could be deemed a luxury item based on the current roster.