Bengals sign DT Dexter Lawrence to one-year, $28M extension

defensive tackle dexter lawrence ii passed my physical with cincinnati bengals And has signed a one-year, $28 million extension, WIN Sports Group told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Sunday.

Lawrence, acquired by the Bengals New York Giants The No. 10 pick in this week’s draft is now under contract with Cincinnati for the next three seasons.

“I know he’s sacrificed a lot for me and I appreciate it,” Lawrence said Sunday. According to the team’s website. “I don’t take it lightly. There’s a fire inside me.”

The Bengals announced Lawrence’s extension but did not disclose financial terms.

“Dexter fits our vision of our defense and he will lift up others around him,” Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin said in a statement. “We have full confidence in Dexter and we can’t wait to see the positive impact he and the other players we acquired this offseason have on our football team. We are excited to pursue the draft and our remaining selections to further improve our team.”

The Giants traded Lawrence after reaching an impasse in negotiations on a new deal. He requested a trade after seven years with New York.

The Giants now own the No. 5 and No. 10 picks in the first round.

Lawrence, 28, was a Pro Bowl selection from 2022 to 2024 and was named second-team All-Pro in 2022 and 2023. He has 30.5 sacks and 40 tackles for loss in 109 career games, but he is coming off a season with career lows in sacks (0.5) and tackles (33).

The move is a rare one for Cincinnati. According to ESPN Research, this is the first time the Bengals have had a top 10 pick for a player in the Common Draft era (since 1966).

This trade helps solidify an offseason strategy the Bengals made to strengthen the line of scrimmage. In free agency, Cincinnati signed former Seattle Seahawks edge runner boy sorry Three-year, $60 million deal and former added minnesota vikings defensive lineman jonathan allen On a two-year, $25 million deal.

In addition to those additions and signatures of the former kansas city chiefs Security brian cook (three years, $40.25 million), Cincinnati had a relatively quiet offseason. But the acquisition of Lawrence marks a significant change in direction for the Bengals. Cincinnati is looking to quickly improve its defense, which it struggled with last season as the team missed the playoffs for the third consecutive year.

ESPN’s Jordan Raanan contributed to this report.