Dexter Lawrence joins Cincinnati Bengals with a 'burning fire'
· Yahoo Sports
Dexter Lawrence was enjoying his Saturday evening at home playing the "NBA 2K" video game when his phone started ringing.
Lawrence’s agent, Joel Segal, called to inform the three-time Pro Bowl nose tackle that he would be joining the Cincinnati Bengals. It took Lawrence a minute to process what was about to transpire.
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“It was abrupt,” Lawrence recalled of when he learned the New York Giants were trading him to the Bengals. “Didn't know much, just going through the process and talking to my agent. Just had to pray. I prayed a lot, man, and because I was out of control of a lot of things. It was like somebody was hanging me like this with a string, but I'm blessed to be here. I'm happy.”
The Bengals gave the Giants their first-round NFL Draft pick (No. 10 overall) for Lawrence. For years now, Cincinnati’s coaching staff and front office have admired the way he plays the game. So, when news of Lawrence’s displeasure in New York started to come to light, the Bengals explored their options.
Ultimately, the Bengals decided Lawrence was worth giving up a top-10 draft selection. Now, Lawrence is ready to show he’s worth the investment the Bengals made to acquire him.
“It’s burning fire for them to bring me in the way they did and give up what they did,” Lawrence said. “I owe it to them to dominate on that field. That’s what I plan on doing.”
Lawrence is the best external acquisition Cincinnati’s front office has made in a decade. The former No. 17 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft is one of, if not the best, players at his position.
In 109 games for the Big Blue, Lawrence registered 30.5 sacks, 341 tackles and 103 quarterback hits. In addition to his three Pro Bowl nods, he was also named to the Associated Press All-Pro second team in 2022 and 2023. Following the 2022 season, he was Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded interior defender.
It’s rare that a player of Lawrence’s caliber becomes available, and the Bengals took advantage of the opportunity.
“He's a foundational piece on defense that everybody recognizes, because whether you've had to block him or had to play against him or just watched tape of him, you understand what he's capable of,” Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said. “Guys in this league recognize that talent and that ability.”
The trade for Lawrence left Taylor at a loss for words to some degree. Not only does Lawrence immediately upgrade the Bengals’ defense, but it has also re-energized the entire franchise.
“You get a guy like that in your locker room, that’s a whole team changer,” right tackle Amarius Mims said. “Not just a defensive changer, that’s a whole team changer. I don’t care what (anyone) says, that man is, like, literally the best defensive tackle in the NFL if you ask me.”
Lawrence is coming off a down year from a statistical perspective. The 28-year-old refused to use his shoulder injury as a reason for a dip in production. He didn’t register a full sack last season or register more than 10 quarterback hits for the first time since his rookie campaign.
According to Lawrence, he needed to go through the 2025 season to be ready for what he hopes is in store for him with the Bengals.
“I needed last season,” he said. “It became a perspective. I needed the season to get to where I am now."
Lawrence is ready to dominate in Cincinnati. He wants to get back to being the ultimate game wrecker opponents fear when they step on the field. There’s an attitude and style he plays with, and he is eager to show it wearing orange and black.
The Bengals needed a player like Lawrence on defense to get back to being a contender once again. Cincinnati’s defense has been one of the league’s worst units for the last two seasons.
With Lawrence anchoring the defensive line, the Bengals should be an improved unit against the run and pass in the upcoming season.
“I take most pride in just burying the guy in front of me,” Lawrence said. "The league wants to get pass happy, but you can’t lose that dominance in the middle of the field. You can’t lose that attitude of choking somebody out and burying them."
After years of playing on a team with turnover at the quarterback position, Lawrence is ready to play with a secured starting quarterback. The opportunity to play with Joe Burrow excites Lawrence.
Lawrence spent seven years playing for one team. He knows there’s going to be challenges along the way as he gets settled in Cincinnati and learns a new defense.
But the idea of being uncomfortable is a motivating force for Lawrence and one he hopes brings out the best in him.
“When this opportunity came, I jumped at it because I knew I was going to be uncomfortable,” Lawrence said. “You (have) to learn a lot of new names, move to a new city, and bring my family and my dogs and find a place, so I knew it was going to be a little uncomfortable. That's the process, though, and I think I adjust well and I handle those things well.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Dexter Lawrence joins Cincinnati Bengals with a 'burning fire'