Should the Steelers trade for Dexter Lawrence?

LOL. Why not ask for a first-rounder for Heyward, too, while you're at it.

 

The point that was being made here was that this was a great return for the Giants.

I think the point you're making is that we wouldn't get this return for TJ. If so, that was also the point I was making (that this would be an over-payment).

But that was never going to happen on this team because you can't sell your only marquee player for futures and then come out and claim you are competing for a SB this year. And Rooney feels like it's necessary to say that ever season (even when it's clearly not the case).

 

Well played by Dexter's agent.


Not so much by Cincy. They could have had either Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs, Mansoor Delane, Jermod McCoy or another pick. Instead, they have told everyone they are going to push their chips to the middle of the table for Shemar Stewart's development. I believe he was misused at Texas A&M for Mike Elko's staff uses EDGEs in very weird ways despite being a four man front; namely having their EDGEs two gap on blitzing but go full speed when they don't.


Granted, this doesn't excuse Shemar's own issues; his holdout being his own doing. Really put himself behind the eight ball there. He is going to have to rise to the occasion. Same goes for Myles Murphy.

 

Same.


Trading him for the number 10 overall pick though?! Massive overpay.

 

My point was that it was silly to even bring up the idea of a pick that high for Watt. He is in clear decline with a massive contract. Lawrence had one disastrous year, but he is younger and plays a position where players tend to age better.

Regardless of what you or any of us think the team would do, they made a mistake in not dealing Watt while his value was high before they gave him the new deal last year. They probably could have gotten at least a first-round pick, and now they have that albatross of a contract for a player whose production has dropped off significantly. The Giants may be in a different situation, but they still made the right move. It helps that the fan base is pissed at Lawrnece for his 2025, but really, it is foolish to allow optics and fan opinions to determine whether or not a team makes a move.

 

Good player - plus for Cincy
Big trade cost - negative for Cincy
Not outrageous extension - plus for Cincy

I'd say it's not a bad deal for the Bengals, a very nice deal for the Giants (he wanted out so everyone knew he had to be moved). 29 years old coming off a down year. If he comes back to where he was a couple of years ago then very good player. If not then more bungling by the Bengals.

 

If Lawrence gets back to his 2024 play, Steelers IOL is in trouble.
He dominated them.

 

If the Bengals get 3+ years of good production, it was a great trade.

If Lawrence look's like Watt has looked, declining and maybe with his size/age starts to have nagging injuries, it was a horrible trade. Time will tell.

There was going to be a stud rookie D player at pick 10, either a great Edge, Safety or DB (or LB).

The one thing to consider is how awful at drafting defense the Bengals brass has been. Maybe they're spooked now.

They kept drafting guys that had measurables or were former 5-star recruits, but never produced in college at the level expected (probably NOT hard workers). This is why video tape and production should be the biggest keys, not a 40 or high jump, but did he look the part on tape and did he make plays that he should make and a few he shouldn't have.

 

Yeah, right now, I think the trade is awful, mostly due to his age and drop in production. I think they just bought medium-high and paid peak prices for a depreciating asset. Time will tell, but the Bengals got fleeced and the Giants just got a chance to add TWO studs to the starting 22. Nuts.

Bengals should have held tight with only their 2nd round pick in play and then added a Downs or Bailey or Bain or Styles with pick 10 to go with Lawrence.

 

I think this speaks as much to the Steelers 2024 Oline as anything else.

 

I don't think they were getting Lawrence for a second-round pick.

 

They could have if they hadn't caved. Not many suitors for an aging, declining Lawrence and Giants just about had to trade him.