Bengals get exciting top-10 ranking on new DT Dexter Lawrence from ESPN

The Cincinnati Bengals needed to make a lot of moves to improve the defensive side of the ball this offseason, and they did just that with a slew of free-agent signings and a massive trade.

In a simple swap, the Bengals sent the No. 10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to the New York Giants for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II. He's a huge presence, literally, along the DL, and is the big move the Bengals made to instill confidence in the team.

While the seasons are still a few months away, the Bengals got an exciting ranking from ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and his poll of NFL scouts, executives, and coaches on the top-10 defensive tackles, as Lawrence, despite a down season, is still a top-10 DT in the league.

Bengals get top-10 ranking on Dexter Lawrence II

"7. Dexter Lawrence II, Cincinnati Bengals. Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Unranked... Last year's ranking: 1," Fowler shared. "Lawrence fell six spots, but the drop in his play isn't that steep."

While Lawrence went from being the No. 1-ranked defensive tackle in the NFL to being ranked just No. 7, he's still a top-10 DT in the league, and as Fowler noted, "The voting between the third and seventh spots was close."

Lawrence, acquired from the Giants after a rough 2025 season in which he recorded just a 0.5 sack in a career-low year, had a reason for his struggles.

Beyond the Giants' struggles as a team overall, and with how Lawrence was unhappy in New York, he was double-teamed 71.3% of the time last year, according to Fowler, which was the most for any player with at least 300 pass-rush snaps.

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Lawrence had some incredible seasons for the Giants, including three-straight Pro Bowl nods from 2022 through 2024. In those seasons, he posted 7.5, 4.5, and 9.0 sacks, respectively.

A two-time second-team All-Pro, Lawrence is a trade addition for the Bengals that has to reach his sky-high potential again this upcoming season.

An NFC scout believes he can do so, as he said, "I think he'll be rejuvenated there. He wasn't happy in New York. He's got to keep his conditioning in check, but when he's at his best, he's next to impossible to block."

Bengals fans should be excited about their new defensive tackle, as even after a bad 2025 season, the NFL still views him as a top-10 defensive tackle in the NFL, and one with the potential to be a top-three DT in the whole league.

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