New York Giants: Dexter Lawrence Will Be Dominant Instantly

The New York Giants drafted interior defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence with the 17th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. This pick was acquired via trade and it was the Giants’ second pick in the 1st-round. Dexter was the Giants’ first defensive player drafted in 2019, but he was not the last.

Dexter Lawrence will be thrown into the starting mix immediately. He will join the Giants’ young and underrated defensive front that features rising star B.J. Hill and unsung hero Dalvin Tomlinson. The addition of Dexter Lawrence could make this one of the best young defensive fronts in the NFL.

Dominant In Run Defense

Weighing in at a whopping 342 pounds, Dexter Lawrence is the hog-molliest of the hog mollies. He is an absolute brick wall that will swallow running backs whole in the middle of the Giants’ defensive line.

Dexter Lawrence recorded 36 total tackles in 2018 with 7 tackles for loss. Pro Football Focus gave Dexter Lawrence an 87.7 run-defense grade in 2018. He had 25 total defensive stops in 2018 as well.

Lawrence also exhibited elite strength at the 2019 NFL Combine. His 36 bench reps were the most of any defender in the entire draft class. Dexter will be able to use his superior strength to plug holes and push offensive linemen into the backfield to disrupt plays.

Underrated Pass Rusher

Many critics have already written Dexter Lawrence off as a pass-rusher. He has been toted as a two-down rotational run-stuffing nose tackle. However, this is just not true.

Dexter Lawrence is a criminally underrated pass-rusher. This interior defensive lineman was well-adept at getting to the quarterback during his time at Clemson.

According to Pro Football Focus, Dexter Lawrence racked up 33 total pressures in 2018 (T12th in draft class) and he also had the third-highest pass rush productivity percentage in the draft class, applying pressure on 13.8% of his snaps.

Lawrence was phenomenal as a true freshman. He racked up 48 total pressures during that 2016 season. This season demonstrated Dexter’s true potential as a pass-rusher. He is a little heavy, but if he can drop some pounds (which he admitted he needs to), Dexter Lawrence can be a truly exceptional pass-rusher.