Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor knows the 2026 season is likely a make-or-break one. That's why the former Nebraska football star quarterback gave the go-ahead for his team to make a blockbuster trade just days ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. Now, Taylor and his defensive coordinator, Al Golden, have a lynchpin at defensive tackle in Dexter Lawrence and more time to decide how else to retool the defense on Friday.
Reports began swirling on Saturday night that the New York Giants and Bengals swung a deal that sent Lawrence - a three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle - to the Queen City for the No. 10 overall pick in Thursday's draft. Even better were reports that the trade was straight up. In other words, Taylor's team essentially drafted a still young (28 years old) defensive tackle who is one of the best in the game instead of an untested rookie who has to grow into his role.
Former Nebraska star gets his defensive gem in Dexter Lawrence
The Nebraska alum knows that if the Bengals are able to keep Joe Burrow healthy in 2026, the offense will be good enough to take the team all the way to the Super Bowl. It's been the defense that's been the problem in the last four seasons.
Taylor's defense still needs to be souped up in the NFL Draft, but by getting Dexter Lawrence for only the No. 10 pick, he still has plenty of ways to build the rest of the defense.
Despite not having eye-popping numbers last year, Lawrence's effect on a defense is drastic. The big man spent most of his time going up against great offensive lines in Philadelphia and Dallas and still struck fear in the hearts of opposing offenses.
Zac Taylor has one more shot to turn things around for the Bengals
When Lawrence wasn't on the field last season (a down year for the talented DT), the Giants defense was putrid:
- #32 YPA (8.4)
- #31 sack rate (4.1%)
- #27 EPA/pass (+0.13)
- #26 pass success (47%)
- #23 pressure rate (32%)
When he was on the field, New York had one of the better defenses in the NFL:
- #7 pass success (40%)
- #8 YPA (6.6)
- #9 sack rate (7.7%)
- #10 EPA/pass (+0.09)
- #22 pressure rate (33%)
The former Nebraska star knows that even if his players didn't blame him or his coaching staff for the Bengals' struggles last season, he doesn't have very many more to prove he can be a winning coach in the NFL. Dexter Lawrence could be the key in Cincinnati to a massive turnaround.
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