PFF ranks Dexter Lawrence among NFL's top defensive tackles
Over the last three seasons, defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence has taken his game to an elite level.
It should not come as a surprise to anyone that Lawrence is being ranked among the best at his position, despite missing some time in 2024.
Pro Football Focus' Trevor Sikkema recently ranked the top 32 interior defensive linemen across the NFL, which featured Lawrence all the way up at No. 2, trailing only Kansas City's Chris Jones.
"Lawrence logged only 550 snaps in 2024 due to some missed time, but he recorded an 89.0-plus PFF overall grade (89.9) for the third season in a row," wrote Sikkema. "His 1.07 PFF WAR over the past three years sits behind only Chris Jones at the position."
Lawrence was in the midst of a career-year before an elbow injury forced him to miss the final month of the season.
The 6-foot-4, 340-pound lineman registered a career-high nine sacks across his first 12 games before the injury. He added 16 quarterback hits, eight tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one pass defensed, as well.
Lawrence was selected to the Pro Bowl for the third straight season, and while the injury likely caused him to miss out on a third consecutive AP All-Pro nod, he was voted by his peers to the NFL Players Association All-Pro team. Lawrence has been voted first-team All-Pro at nose tackle by the NFLPA in all three years of this particular award's existence.
Here are PFF's top five interior defenders heading into the 2025 season.
- Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs
- Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants
- Cam Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Quinnen Williams, New York Jets
- Jalen Carter, Philadelphia Eagles
View the top photos as the Giants returned to the practice field Monday for OTA No. 4.
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Tiki Barber
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Brian Daboll
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Tiki Barber
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TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
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View every move made by the New York Giants during the 2025 cycle.
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OLB Victor Dimukeje - Returned to Practice (October 15)
WR Juice Wells Jr. - Practice Squad (October 13)
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K Jude McAtamney - Free Agent Signing (from NYG PS) (October 9)
WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (October 9)
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OLB Tomon Fox - Practice Squad Exception (October 1)
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K Graham Gano - Reserve/Injured (September 27)
OLB Tomon Fox - Practice Squad Exception (September 24)
K Younghoe Koo - Practice Squad Veteran (September 23)
LB Curtis Jacobs - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 23)
OLB Tomon Fox - Waived, No Recall (September 22)
OLB Tomon Fox - Free Agent Signing from NYG PS (September 20)
WR Xavier Gipson - Waived, No Recall (September 20)
DL Elijah Garcia - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 20)
LB Neville Hewitt - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 20)
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T Andrew Thomas - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 22)
RB Eric Gray - Declared Physically Unable to Perform (July 22)
OLB Victor Dimukeje - Declared Non-Football Injury (July 22)
Giants receive 2026 sixth-round draft pick from Dolphins in exchange for conditional 2027 seventh-round selection and TE Darren Waller (July 7)
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DT Ross Blacklock - Reserve/Future (January 6)
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C Jimmy Morrissey - Reserve/Future (January 6)
DT Casey Rogers - Reserve/Future (January 6)
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