A new opportunity is in place for Dexter Lawrence, and it comes with both a fresh start and a sizable raise.
The former Clemson football standout is heading to Cincinnati after the Giants agreed to move him in exchange for the No. 10 overall pick in this week’s NFL Draft. Not long after the deal came together, the Bengals made sure to lock him in, adding a one-year, $28 million extension that now has him under contract through the 2028 season at a total value of $70 million.
Lawrence didn’t need much time to buy into the move.
“Once I heard Cincinnati was in that option, I got excited immediately,” he said. “I think I bring an attitude of dominance… I’m going to be the guy to help this defense go to the next level.”
Even with a dip in production during the 2025 season, his overall résumé still carries weight around the league. Before last year, Lawrence had stacked three straight Pro Bowl selections and earned All-Pro honors twice, building a reputation as one of the more reliable interior defensive linemen in the NFL.
The Bengals are clearly betting on that version of him returning, especially as they look to strengthen a defense to match their high-powered offense.
“They wanted me here, and they appreciated the work that I’ve put in,” Lawrence said. “I’m gonna do everything I can to show them that they didn’t waste it. I’m excited… I got a fire in me that I ain’t never had this fire before.”
The move also brings a reunion. Lawrence will once again share a locker room with Tee Higgins, his former Clemson teammate. The two were part of a national championship run together, and now they’re aiming for something even bigger at the next level.
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“I told Tee, ‘We’ve got some unfinished business,’” Lawrence said. “That’s obviously our goal. Winning the Super Bowl.”
With a new deal secured and a contender in place, Lawrence heads into his eighth NFL season motivated to return to form and make an impact right away.
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: NFL star Dexter Lawrence opens up about trade to Cincinnati Bengals