While it wasn't exactly a carbon copy, the New York Giants have emulated what the San Francisco 49ers were known for doing: investing heavily in the defensive line.
True, the G-Men have all kinds of shortcomings heading into 2026 under their new head coach, John Harbaugh, but their D-line isn't supposed to be one of them.
Well, at least hopefully not.
Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence wants out, having requested a trade, according to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter:
ESPN sources: Giants All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence has requested a trade and he will not be participating in the team’s off-season workout program that opens Tuesday.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 6, 2026
Lawrence and the Giants have been through two off seasons attempting to negotiate a contract… pic.twitter.com/WUSTNxmeGh
Whether or not New York agrees to trade him or offer up some sort of contractual compromise is anyone's guess, but for now, the star interior defender isn't planning on showing up for offseason programs.
So, naturally, when a player of Lawrence's ilk becomes available, it's only a matter of time until pretty much every team is discussed as a destination.
The Niners need not worry, though. They're good.
49ers' trade for Osa Odighizuwa negates need for Dexter Lawrence
San Francisco already solved its pressing need for an interior disruptor like Lawrence by executing a deal with the Dallas Cowboys for defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa.
Sure, Odighizuwa might not be the sack specialist that Lawrence is, at least by the latter's 2024 standards, yet the interior pocket-collapsing abilities are something the 49ers haven't truly had since the D-line heyday years of Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner.
Getting Odighizuwa into the fold changes that.
Paired with second-year pro Alfred Collins, who showed promise his rookie season but still needs some polish, the Niners hope they'll have exactly what they need to reinforce what was a stagnant pass rush in 2025 that resulted in the league's fewest sacks (20).
While Lawrence (if traded) would immediately boost nearly any team's D-line, San Francisco effectively took itself out of any running for his services by its earlier trade with Dallas.
From that vantage point, the 49ers can simply sit back and watch the drama unfold.
Although they can secretly hope he doesn't go to a rival.