The Los Angeles Chargers, despite the speculation, couldn't have truly been in on a trade for former New York Giants DT Dexter Lawrence.
The 28-year-old was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday for the 10th-overall selection in the upcoming draft, a haul that matches perfectly with New York's asking price of a top-10 selection or a first-round pick with additional assets. For the Bengals, who are typically risk-averse when it comes to paying their defensive players, it's a confusing move.
But they've extended Lawrence on a one-year, $28 million deal, resolving the contract dispute that ultimately led to his departure from New York. Lawrence will be a free agent after the 2028 season.
The matter is concluded, and the Chargers never really had a shot at Lawrence even if they were interested internally. But there's an important lesson to be learned here, and it creates a draft-day dilemma for Los Angeles.
If an aging defensive tackle coming off the least productive season of his career can fetch a top-10 pick, the Chargers are likely better off completing their interior defensive line in the early rounds of the draft rather than through a trade or free agency. But with glaring needs at offensive guard and edge rusher, would it be worth taking a defensive tackle in the first two rounds?
Chargers must determine how immediate their need for another defensive tackle is
Los Angeles has made some solid moves to secure the interior of their defensive line this offseason. They extended Teair Tart on a three-year, $30 million contract. His disruptiveness at the line of scrimmage made him a vital piece to retain this offseason. They also added run-stuffer Dalvin Tomlinson on a one-year, $6.8 million contract.
But they likely need another piece, especially one who can be disruptive in the passing game, to feel like the room is complete.
Throughout this draft cycle, mock drafts have routinely connected them to players like Kayden McDonald out of Ohio State and Caleb Banks out of Florida. While both these players will likely shake out as second-round selections, there's been buzz about McDonald rising up into the late first round.
In a vacuum, taking a defensive tackle in the first (or early second, if they were able to trade back) makes perfect sense for the Chargers. Joe Hortiz has long operated under a "best player available" philosophy, and there's a real chance the top player on Los Angeles' board by the time it selects is an interior defensive lineman.
But if they're drafting for need, bringing in competition for Trevor Penning at left guard and getting a succession plan in place for the 35-year-old Khalil Mack must take precedent.
If they want to find a stop-gap at the positon, they'll be able to accomplish that in free agency. But if they want to find a long-term, star-caliber contributor at defensive tackle, the Dexter Lawrence trade has made it clear they'll need to do so through the Draft.
It creates a difficult draft-day dilemma for the Chargers.
Add us as a preferred source on Google