Dexter Lawrence’s trade from the New York Giants to the Cincinnati Bengals in mid-April 2026, completed for a first-round draft pick and followed by a one-year contract extension, has anchored the Bengals as the clear frontrunner in the market. The move gives Cincinnati a proven interior defensive lineman entering his age-29 season under a new deal that runs through 2028, aligning roster construction with the team’s defensive needs ahead of the 2026 campaign. Trader consensus reflects this completed transaction and Lawrence’s expected availability for Week 1, with the Bengals holding an overwhelming implied probability. A late-season injury, unexpected release, or another trade could still shift the outcome, though such developments remain unlikely given the recent contract security and team investment.