NFL
April 13, 2023 |: 3:53 p.m
There’s Aaron Donald after which there’s everybody else in relation to defensive tackles within the NFL.
Ditto salaries and contracts for the massive boys up entrance.
There’s Donald, after which there’s… Dexter Lawrence.
This might be the brand new incentive order for a place that has loved a monetary boon this season.
Lawrence shouldn’t be scheduled to take part in Monday’s opening of the Giants’ voluntary exercise program in hopes of beginning negotiations on a brand new deal.
The way in which the market has performed out, there’s each purpose to consider Lawrence needs to be on the second line, trailing solely Donald, a future Corridor of Famer, because the league’s second-highest paid defensive sort out.
Donald’s three-year, $95 million deal ($46.5 million assured) averages $31.6 million per yr.
Lawrence would not rise to that stratosphere.
The subsequent goal is Jeffery Simmons, who signed a $94 million extension with the Titans this offseason, averaging $23.5 million per yr.
That is what Lawrence goals to realize or exceed.
Then there’s Daron Payne, who acquired a four-year, $90 million deal ($59 million assured) to stick with the Commanders, averaging $22.5 million per yr.
Simmons, Lawrence and Payne are 25 years previous.
That is as a result of Lawrence will beat the 30-year-old Jevon Hargrave contract he acquired from the Eagles for the 49ers at 4 years, $84 million ($40 million assured) at a median of $21 million per yr.
Lawrence and Payne are repped by the identical agent, Joel Segal, who couldn’t be reached for remark.
The Giants wish to do it.
Basic supervisor Joe Schoen arrived final yr and instantly signed Lawrence to a fifth-year possibility price $10.7 million by the 2023 season.
Schön knew Lawrence was a high quality participant.
Throughout their yr collectively, Schoen acquired to know Lawrence on and off the courtroom and was decided to put money into him long-term.
It did not harm that Lawrence put collectively his greatest season, with profession highs in tackles (68), sacks (7.5), tackles for loss (7) and sacks (28).
Lawrence was elected crew captain for the primary time.
“Dexter is nice,” Schon mentioned earlier than this season. “The chief, an awesome participant, has accomplished job for us this yr so he is definitely somebody we’ll be speaking to and we would like to have him right here for a very long time.”
The timing could not be higher for Lawrence, as the cash has skyrocketed in his tenure.
Schoen acknowledged that and maybe foreshadowed a troublesome negotiation when he mentioned this on the NFL scouting mix in late February. “.
Does Lawrence should make greater than Payne and as a lot or greater than Simmons?
The Giants chosen Lawrence with the No. 17 total choose within the 2019 NFL Draft.
The Titans took Simmons at No. 19, so that they’re an apt comparability.
In 64 video games, Lawrence had 213 tackles, 16.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss and 58 sacks.
Simmons has 189 tackles, 21 sacks, 28 tackles for loss and 46 hits in 56 video games.
Simmons was named to 2 Professional Bowls, Lawrence to 1.
Lawrence is a dominant run defender, however in some eyes could also be barely behind Simmons as a go rusher.
Lawrence additionally did not come near the 11.5 sacks through the season that Payne produced in 2022.
If Lawrence does get what he needs and strikes subsequent to or forward of Simmons, it would simply be a brief concession to Donald.
Chris Jones of the Chiefs is within the ultimate levels of a four-year, $80 million deal and can seemingly obtain an enormous extension in the summertime.
Quinen Williams, taken No. 3 total by the Jets in 2019, is as excessive or greater than draft classmates Lawrence and Simmons and might be behind Donald in a brand new deal.
Schoen mentioned on the NFL house owners conferences in late March that “we have had good conversations with the representatives” and revealed “we’re in negotiations” for Lawrence’s extension.
What the Giants view as an awesome package deal proper now is not sufficient to make that occur, and for now, Lawrence will keep away from the crew’s facility.
