The Giants boast a top-heavy roster, but one of New York’s most talented players may be on his way out.

Monday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, All-Pro defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence requested a trade, after spending the past two offseasons attempting to rework his current contract.

Sources inside the league expect a robust market, should the Giants acquiesce to the 28-year-old’s request.

“You’re talking about a top-five defensive lineman in the league,” an NFC North defensive coach tells Between The Hashmarks, on the condition of anonymity to speak freely about a player on another team. “Dexter Lawrence is a difference-maker.”

Despite having two years remaining on his current deal, Lawrence seems exasperated by the Giants’ reluctance to rework his contract. Lawrence’s current deal pays him upwards of $21.8 million per season, including $60 million guaranteed.

One agent familiar with the defensive tackle market tells Between The Hashmarks that Lawrence would likely command somewhere between Milton Williams’ $26 million per season, and Christian Wilkins’ $27.5 million AAV.

The Giants, for their part, don’t sound very intent on moving off Lawrence, understanding that trading him removes one of the most dominant players on the roster, who happens to play a premium position.

“He’s super, super important. He’s a cornerstone football player -- not really a cornerstone, more like the middle stone,” Giants coach John Harbaugh told reporters at the combine in March. “He’s right in the middle. He’s a very big stone, and he’s a very active, athletic one.”

Lawrence, 6-foot-4 and 340 pounds, is a space eater along the defensive line against the run who has averaged 48.7 total tackles per season. He’s also plenty capable of providing an interior pass rush, as underscored by his 30.5 career sacks, since being chosen No. 17 overall by the Giants in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

To get a sense for just how dominant Lawrence is, look no further than how teams protect against him, double-teaming him on 70.35 percent of snaps last season.

In East Rutherford, on a defense that includes All-Pro Brian Burns and ascending star Abdul Carter, Lawrence might be the most gifted defensive player on the roster, given his elite 14 percent pass rush win rate, and elite 84.5 pass rush grade from Pro Football Focus.

Which is exactly why Lawrence’s trade request could be more deeply rooted in saber-rattling a new power structure than actually wanting out, at a time when most teams have already allocated the big spending portion of their cap space.

However, any team acquiring Lawrence would be dropping a foundational building block and genuine difference-maker along the defensive line.

“There’s going to be an issue here,” a former General Manager and current NFL front office executive tells Between The Hashmarks, on the condition of anonymity to speak freely about a player on another team. “Some teams will struggle with compensation to the Giants, and paying him top-dollar on Day 1.

“Also, Dexter may not fit if your team runs a 4-3 base defense. But, having said that, it only takes one team to thread the needle.”

Despite being limited to just 14 total tackles, half a sack, and one interception last season, make no mistake, at this stage of the offseason, Lawrence is the best player currently available and the kind of piece that lifts a competitive team into the realm of legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

FULL Column, with Lawrence’s best fits 🔽