The New York Giants have lost top-10 player Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for the tenth pick in the 2026 draft. This move is seen as the first test of the John Harbaugh-Joe Schoen regime in New York, which many will conclude they failed. Lawrence, who was still in his prime at age 28, had sought an adjustment to reflect the growth in the market and the rise in the salary cap, which has since increased from $182.5 million in 2021 to $301.2 million in 2026, a 65-percent increase. Despite this, Lawrence used his leverage to obtain the trade he wanted and the contract will likely be next. The team's handling of the Lawrence situation could impact the future of the team.