The Kansas City Chiefs' defensive line has been a question mark throughout the offseason. While Chris Jones and George Karlaftis are more than capable of providing a starting presence, the other options along the Chiefs' D-line have left fans to wonder if general manager Brett Veach must further fortify the frontline.
That's why the latest trade buzz surrounding New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence should have their attention.
On Monday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the star defender "has requested a trade, and he will not be participating in the team's offseason workout program that begins Tuesday."
"Lawrence and the Giants have been through two offseasons attempting to negotiate a contract reflecting his value to the team over the past three years, but there has not been any progress, per sources. Lawrence has two years remaining on his deal and is scheduled to make $20 million this upcoming season."Adam Schefter, ESPN.
Lawrence is obviously going to be highly sought after, setting a tone on the inside and compiling 30.5 career sacks and two second-team All-Pro appearances as an inside rusher. The Chiefs should at least kick the tires and consider what the addition of the star defender might mean to the franchise moving forward.
Dexter Lawrence Is Worth the Chiefs' Attention
The Chiefs have lost so many key defenders in the 2026 offseason. Bryan Cook, Jaylen Watson, Trent McDuffie, and Leo Chenal were all lost in trades or free agency. Bringing in Lawrence would help offset this loss and give Kansas City an argument as the league's best defensive line pairing, with Jones and Lawrence plugging up the middle and making life far easier for the likes of Karlaftis, Ashton Gillotte, and Felix Anudike-Uzomah.
Yes, the Chiefs did sign Khyiris Tonga early in free agency, but it's still too early to tell if his 2025 breakout was an outlier or not. Having Lawrence in the mix, too, would help mitigate that risk.
According to Spotrac, Lawrence is expected to carry a $26.9 million cap hit in 2026 and a $26.4 million cap hit in the 2027 season. Kansas City currently has limited cap space ($6.7 million, per OverTheCap), meaning it'd need to not only trade for Lawrence but also work out an extension that moves money, which could severely limit future moves or re-signings. It'd be understandable if fans were hesitant to make a move due to that risk.
With that said, the Kansas City front office has proven to be elite at managing contracts and navigating cap space. If there is one team that can find a way to pay both Jones and Lawrence while fielding a complete roster, it is the Chiefs.
Jones has had far too much placed on his shoulders, and this showed up throughout the 2025 season as he generated hurries on only 7.5% of pass-rushing attempts, down from 9.7% in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus.
Putting Lawrence in the middle of the Chiefs' defense frees up Jones to play far more freely, all while giving defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo one of the best frontlines in the league.
Blockbuster trades always come with risks, but that's the nature of the NFL as a business. The Chiefs need to swing for the fences if they want to get back into the Super Bowl conversation, and finding a way to trade for Lawrence would be just that type of move.
Whether Veach & Co. feel the same remains to be seen; however, it's clear that the increasing buzz surrounding Lawrence's trade request shouldn't fly under the Chiefs' radar.