The New York Giants made one of the most impactful moves of the offseason, flipping Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals for the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. What started as a contract dispute quickly turned into a franchise-altering decision, giving New York a second top-10 selection alongside No. 5.
For analysts building mock drafts, that kind of shake-up forces a reset. Few felt that more than Brett Kollmann, who had to scrap his previous projection entirely once the deal went through.
Brett Kollmann Details How Dexter Lawrence Trade Altered Plans
Kollmann, creator of All 32 and cohost of the “Bootleg Football” podcast, had already finalized his mock before the deal, but it didn’t take long before everything changed.
“I locked in what I thought was going to be my mock last week, and then the Dexter Lawrence trade happened, and everything broke,” he said on his 2026 Live Mock Draft Special. “And so I kind of had to redo the entire mock last night till about 2 a.m., and it ended up being wildly different than what I did last week just because that one trade.”
That reaction speaks to how much value the Giants extracted. Lawrence, who posted a C+ grade and 77.3 PFSN NFL DT Impact Score in 2025, was productive but not dominant, finishing No. 38 among defensive tackles. With his contract situation unresolved and production dipping, New York pivoted toward long-term flexibility.
The Bengals, meanwhile, made an aggressive move to support their roster around Joe Burrow, extending Lawrence on a deal that signals belief in a bounce-back. For draft analysts like Kollmann, though, the focus shifted to how the Giants would use their new draft capital.
What the Giants Can Do With 2 Top-10 Picks in the 2026 NFL Draft
Holding picks No. 5 and No. 10 gives New York rare flexibility. At No. 5, Sonny Styles stands out as a potential defensive centerpiece, especially under a defensive-minded head coach like John Harbaugh. Styles offers range, physicality, and leadership traits that could stabilize a defense losing its anchor in Lawrence.
The No. 10 pick presents equally intriguing options. Adding a weapon like Jordyn Tyson would pair another explosive target with Malik Nabers and support second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart. Alternatively, a versatile defender such as Caleb Downs could help reshape the secondary and maintain balance on that side of the ball.
Kollmann’s comments highlight just how fragile mock drafts can be when a blockbuster transaction shifts team needs and draft order. The Giants now control one of the most pivotal positions in the first round, with multiple roster-building paths at their disposal.
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Whether they go offense to help Dart, focus on rebuilding the defense, or do both, the Lawrence trade has already made an impact. It shifted the conversation around the Giants and how this draft could play out.