Dexter Lawrence is having a career year for the New York Giants. The 2019 first-round pick is having a breakout season like no other as Big Blue is on the cusp of its first playoff berth since 2016. Lawrence had been a quality player for the first two seasons of his career, but he has taken his game to new heights this season. Dexter Lawrence is quickly blossoming into one of the NFL’s premier interior pass rushers for the New York Giants.
Dexter Lawrence is the Giants’ next elite pass-rusher
When the best pass rushers in the NFL get brought up in conversation typically they are edge rushers. It is very rare that an interior defensive lineman makes such a profound impact in the past rushing department. Players like Aaron Donald, Chris Jones, and Fletcher Cox come to mind, but they are among a small group of defensive linemen that stand out for having pass-rushed with proficiency from the interior. The next name that needs to be added to that list is New York Giants defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence.
In 2022, few interior defensive linemen have been as disruptive as Dexter Lawrence. Big Sexy Dexy has been selected to the Pro Bowl Games for the first time in his NFL career. So far this season, Lawrence has racked up an incredible 6.5 sacks and 25 quarterback hits for the Giants in 15 games. He has already been honored with a Pro Bowl selection, but Dexter Lawrence could also be on his way to an All-Pro Team selection, too.
I think I’m having a solid season. There’s plays I wish I had back, opportunities I wish I would’ve finished, on a couple more plays. Overall, I think I’ve been solid. I’ve been trying to improve every week, and just trying to win. Honestly, I don’t care really what my numbers say or anything like that. I just want to win for my brothers.
Dexter Lawrence on his 2022 season so far, via Giants.com
In addition to his 6.5 sacks and 25 quarterback hits, Dexter Lawrence has also totaled 63 combined tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 3 passes defended, and 2 forced fumbles. Every single one of those statistics is a new career-high for Dexter Lawrence – and the Giants still have two games left on their schedule.
Dexter Lawrence is Pro Football Focus’s highest-graded pass-rusher among all defensive linemen in the NFL this season. He has totaled 60 pressures this year, per PFF, which is second, only to Chris Jones.
Dexter Lawrence has been insanely productive as a pass rusher for the New York Giants this season. He leads the team in sacks as an interior rusher while also being their most reliable run defender. Big Blue has something special in Sexy Dexy who has been a true force for their defense in both facets of the game. Dexter Lawrence deserves to be selected to an All-Pro Team in 2022 after a dominant season that produced plenty of wins for the New York Giants.