Dexter Lawrence II

Career StatsB+

Year	Team	GP	Sacks	Tkl	TFL
Career		109	30.5	341	33
2025		17	0.5	31	7
2024		12	9.0	44	4
2023		16

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Dexter Lawrence II's Contract Value Index lands at C, putting the deal in a defined slice of comparable signings. A 7-year veteran entering his age-28 season on a one-year, $28M AAV extension, Lawrence carries a B+ performance grade but a C+ sentiment reading that reflects genuine tension between his pedigree and recent output—the 2025 season produced 31 tackles and 0.5 sacks across 17 games, a below-expectations showing for a 2019 first-round pick at a premium interior defensive line position. At $28M annually, he's priced in the upper-middle tier of the defensive tackle market, a valuation that lands awkwardly when paired with production that underperformed relative to his salary and the trade capital Cincinnati surrendered (the No. 10 overall pick) to acquire him from New York. The one-year structure adds urgency and risk—Lawrence is a proven talent with NFL experience, but the short runway limits the Bengals' ability to absorb underperformance across a multi-year window. Media framing centers squarely on whether Cincinnati overpaid in trade capital and extension dollars to address a front-line weakness, a fair critique given Lawrence's 2025 season did not justify elite compensation. With the regular season 91 days away, the CVI grade reflects a prudent skepticism: he's a solid contributor on paper, but the cost of acquisition and recent statistical dip have created legitimate questions about value optimization.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Dexter's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Dexter Lawrence II enters his seventh NFL season as one of the most physically imposing interior defenders in the league, a former first-round pick who has anchored elite defensive fronts. Now with the Cincinnati Bengals, Lawrence carries a B+ career grade built over 109 games of consistent, high-motor play. He remains a legitimate three-down tackle capable of disrupting both the run game and the pocket. His current-season numbers tell a nuanced story. Lawrence's tackles-per-game sits at 1.82, right at the NFL average, but his TFL rate of 0.41 per game exceeds the league norm of 0.27, reflecting genuine backfield disruption. His QB hit rate of 0.47 per game also beats the NFL average of 0.29, signaling real interior pressure generation. The concern is sack production — just 0.03 per game against an NFL average of 0.14 — suggesting opponents are scheming to keep him clean at the point of conversion. His season trend warrants attention. Lawrence graded B+ in both 2023 and 2024, demonstrating legitimate sustained production, but has slipped to a C- in 2025 — a meaningful regression that scouts cannot ignore. Whether that reflects a scheme adjustment period in Cincinnati or early-season health concerns will define his trajectory. If Lawrence recaptures his disruptive 2024 form and converts pressure into sacks more consistently, he projects as a top-ten interior defender. Watch his finishing rate and double-team percentage as the season progresses.

How Dexter Compares at the Position

Dexter Lawrence II ranks 15th of 216 graded defensive tackles by performance. That slots Dexter between Osa Odighizuwa (A-) just ahead and Arik Armstead (B+) just behind.

Fan Sentiment

Dexter Lawrence II's public perception scores a C+ sentiment grade as fan and media tone converge. The narrative around the 28-year-old interior lineman remains decidedly mixed, with media attention centering on the blockbuster trade mechanics—Cincinnati acquiring him from New York for the No. 10 pick and extending him to a one-year, $28M deal—rather than sustained optimism about his fit in the Bengals' scheme. The disconnect between expectation and recent output is real: Lawrence posted 31 tackles and 0.5 sacks across the 2025 season, a below-expectations showing for a player of his caliber and draft pedigree (2019 first-round, No. 17 overall), which tempers the immediate euphoria surrounding his arrival. Fan discussion has fixated on whether Cincinnati overpaid in trade capital to address a defensive front weakness, a fair debate given the Giants' recent offensive weapons shopping spree (Odell Beckham Jr., JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jarrod Gray signings) signals no regret about his departure. The sentiment grade reflects this unsettled picture: Lawrence is a premium talent on paper, but his 2025 production and the cost of acquisition have left the fanbase in a wait-and-see posture rather than buying in wholesale.