That’s according to an ESPN panel of experts
Who is the best defensive tackle in the NFL? Dexter Lawrence of the New York Giants has been in that discussion for the last few seasons.
Now, a panel of ESPN executives, coaches and scouts says Lawrence has ascended to the defensive tackle throne. In the first installment of its annual ranking of the top 10 players at each position, Lawrence is the No. 1 defensive tackle.
That honor comes even though Lawrence had his 2024 season shortened to 12 games by a dislocated elbow.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler writes:
Lawrence’s game reached a new stratosphere in 2024, when he expanded his arsenal and added a nine-sack season to an already stellar résumé.
Dominating the run was always on the agenda for Lawrence. He has the balance, power, flexibility, footwork and acumen to post big sack numbers. In the past, the knock on Lawrence was that he missed too many near-sacks.
No longer.
Lawrence racked up quarterback takedowns while facing a 74.5% double-team rate, higher than any other interior lineman. The Giants saw him improve his ability to transition off blocks, be great on the move and finish takedowns.
“I thought he should have been [Defensive Player of the Year] with the season he had,” an NFL personnel director said. “He’s a true zero-technique nose who can occupy doubles and neutralize the run game. I think he took his pass rush to a different level, and I think he would have had double-digit sacks if (Brian) Burns and (Kayvon) Thibodeaux stayed healthy. A true three-down game wrecker who needs attention every single snap.”
Lawrence almost certainly would have had the first double-digit sack season of his career had he been healthy for the full season. At 6-foot-4 and 340-ish pounds, there has to be some acknowledgment that eventually he won’t be able to sustain the incredible things he can do forever.
At 27, though, that time should not be now.
With Lawrence at the top of his game, and help from Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Abdul Carter and some of the other front seven pieces the Giants have added, it could be fun to see what that group is capable of in 2025.
