Giants’ Dexter Lawrence Shock Trade Sparks Draft Chaos as Plans for Picks No.5 & No.10 Emerge

The Giants shocked the football world over the weekend by landing the 10th overall pick for veteran defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, and sending the first shockwave to rival front offices who are picking in the top half of round one.

Immediately, other general managers began trying to ascertain what the Giants will now do with two of the first 10 selections in the draft, and conversations with several evaluators who know Giants coach John Harbaugh produced similar expectations about how New York is likely to proceed. 

Those evaluators did not expect the Lawrence departure to alter what they thought Harbaugh preferred at fifth overall, and they view the 10th overall pick as a perfect spot to address the other side of the ball, despite trading away their best defensive player.

Who Goes Fifth Overall, Now?

Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles continues to be a name I hear linked to the Giants with the fifth-overall pick. 

There will be a run on defensive linemen from 2-4, picking ahead of the Giants, and while Lawrence’s departure could make Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain, Jr. even more in play with the fifth pick, I’d continue to mock Styles to the Giants.

“Styles is the Kyle Hamilton for them,” one longtime personnel exec said about Styles fitting into Harbaugh’s defense the way hybrid defender took Harbaugh’s defense in Baltimore to another level. 

“This trade doesn't change that.”

Much is being made about Giants general Joe Schoen, who I continue to hear is in very real danger of losing his job after the draft, spending time with Arizona State receiver Jordan Tyson over the week, but that could end up being more of a smoke screen. 

Or the Giants could grab him with the 10th pick, but one general manager SportsBoom spoke with who is very much evaluating receivers was less than convinced New York would take Tyson at 5.

“Styles won’t be there at 10, and the top five defensive players will be gone, maybe the top six or seven,” the GM said. 

“But there are going to be a lot of receivers they could take at 10.”

The Giants could certainly use an explosive downfield threat to help young quarterback Jaxson Dart, but more than anything else the Giants need to keep Dart, already dealing with a concussion history, as healthy as possible. And the offense line was not upgraded substantially enough in the offseason and there are needs at multiple positions up front. 

SportsBoom hear Harbaugh loves Penn State guars Vega Ioane, a player his former team, Baltimore, is incredibly high on as well, and a tackle like Kadyn Proctor (Alabama) or Spencer Fano (Utah) will also have strong appeal to New York.

Either could start at a position other than left tackle, where Andrew Thomas is dominant when healthy for the Giants but isn’t healthy nearly enough.

“I think they go O-line,” the GM said. And we agree.