The San Francisco 49ers seemed like a prime candidate for a Dexter Lawrence trade. With a lingering weak spot on the interior of the defensive line and their Super Bowl window narrowing by the day, the move made perfect sense.
But not at that price.
The Cincinnati Bengals made the move, sending the New York Giants the 10th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft in exchange for the superstar defensive tackle. The idea of a trade for Lawrence may have been enticing for 49ers fans when the projected price was a second-round pick. John Lynch shouldn't have any regrets after seeing how much Cincinnati paid for the veteran.
49ers were right to pass on Dexter Lawrence trade after Bengals' massive overpay
When the news broke in early April that Lawrence had requested a trade, fans around San Francisco perked up a bit. The thought of dropping an All-Pro defensive tackle into an already talented defense was too good to ignore. For a second-round pick, why wouldn't Lynch test the waters with the Giants?
We may never know whether the 49ers made an offer for Lawrence, but it's clear that they were not willing to outbid the Bengals. The final compensation that the Giants received for their star defender makes it painfully obvious that San Francisco didn't have the ammo to get a deal done. As ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler noted, there wasn't a chance that another team was going to beat Cincinnati's bid.
Source on how Bengals sealed the Dexter Lawrence trade: 'Nobody was going to beat the 10th pick.'
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 19, 2026
Made the call clear for the Giants.
The Bengals followed up the blockbuster trade by giving Lawrence a one-year contract extension worth a reported $28 million.
Now, the 49ers are set to enter the 2026 season with their current group of defensive tackles, potentially supplemented by a mid-round draft pick. Alfred Collins and Osa Odighizuwa will lead the group, with C.J. West and Sebastian Valdez filling in as depth.
The final price of the Lawrence trade certainly makes the 49ers' deal for Odighizuwa look a bit better. Of course, the two players are levels apart when it comes to talent, but the former Dallas Cowboys defender will be a capable starter for San Francisco for years to come. A third-round pick is not a bad price to pay for that kind of stability on the interior of the defensive line.
Lawrence would likely have transformed the 49ers' defense. He's one of the best defensive tackles in the league. But Lynch was right not to mortgage his team's future for the veteran.
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