New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen spoke to reporters at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday and discussed the crucial offseason facing the team.
Although the Giants are trying to work on deals for their pending free agents, Schoen did reveal that they have had discussions with defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence regarding a contract extension.
Joe Schoen says he’s had convos with Dexter Lawrence agent about an extension #Giants
— Ryan Dunleavy (@rydunleavy) February 28, 2023
“We’ve had conversations with [his agent]. He’s a great leader, great player…we’d like to have him here for a long time.”
– Joe Schoen on a possible Dexter Lawrence extension pic.twitter.com/KAsRhs0AUU
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) February 28, 2023
“This will be a big (week). I mean all the UFAs. And then, anyone like Dexter (Lawrence) — Joel Segal is his agent (and) we’ve had conversations with him,” Schoen said. “That’s a little bit trickier. The DT market, when you look at the gap between the highest-paid and then the next guy. But Dexter’s great, you know, leader, great player, did a great job for us this year so he’s definitely someone we’ll talk to and we’d like to have him here for a long time.”
Lawrence is coming off a breakout year where he was by far the best player on defense. With Kayvon Thibodeaux, Leonard Williams, and Azeez Ojulari in and out of the lineup due to injury, Lawrence played at a consistently high level throughout the season leading to high praise as the Giant’s most improved player and one of the league’s best pass rushers.
Lawrence’s breakout season solidified him as a player the Giants should build around and although the extension was certainly on Schoen’s to-do list this offseason, it’s nice to see the talks have begun.
Lawrence is headed into his fifth year in the league and he is set to become a free agent after the 2023 season. Clearly, the Giants are trying to make the wise move to lock Lawrence up long-term prior to the season.
