Dexter Lawrence II has two Pro Bowl nods, two second-team All-Pro selections, and now two appearances in the NFL Top 100.
The star defensive lineman was ranked No. 24 by his peers heading into the 2024 season, up four spots from his debut on last year's list. He joined outside linebacker Brian Burns (No. 55) and is the highest Giants player on the Top 100 since running back Saquon Barkley came in at No. 16 in 2019.
For the 14th consecutive year, current players voted to determine the Top 100 for the upcoming season. NFL+ has been revealing the list in installments, with the top 10 ultimately being announced on Aug. 2.
Lawrence, the 17th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, has played in 80 regular-season games with 73 starts. His career totals include 266 tackles (148 solo), 21.0 sacks, 79 quarterback hits, 28 tackles for loss, 10 passes defensed and four forced fumbles.
With the retirement of three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, Lawrence was asked this offseason if the title for the best defensive tackle in the league could be his.
"It could be," he responded. "I've just got to keep working, working on my weaknesses and getting better with my strengths. It took me by surprise honestly. Look, 10 years is a long time, but you know you expect more things like that, but he left the game on top. A lot of respect to him to what he brought. There probably won't be another one of him. A lot of respect."
View photos of defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence's career with the Giants.
Below is a sample of what some of Lawrence's teammates and coaches have been saying about him recently…
Burns: "If I got Dex with me, just know if I got Dex with me, I got a plan. … Have you seen him? That speaks volumes, just his size alone. He has a God-given ability of strength and athleticism. For a guy that big to move that fast, that agile, it's truly a gift. Something I didn't know before I got here, he's very clever. That probably came through experience. We were going into our sixth year together. Probably came with experience. Yeah, he has a lot of tricks he picked up along the way. From a football standpoint, his IQ is second to none as far as the D-linemen I've played with. I think he definitely knows ball, knows how to rush, knows how to get to the quarterback, and knows how to work together. There are certain things he told me I definitely wasn't in tune. Yeah, he's helping me, as well."
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux: "Dexter's an All-Pro, he's a legend. He's one of the best interior defensive linemen to ever play the game so he makes everything easier."
OL Jon Runyan: "I thought going against Dexter twice in four years was enough and now I got to deal with it every day. It's good. It's only going to make you better. You know, like they say, iron sharpens iron. If you're lacked on any technique, your hands miss, or you're too high, he's going to expose you immediately. So, every single play with him, you got to ring a hundred percent and you got to be locked in and focused. It's only going to make me and everybody else better being able to go against somebody like that. One of the best D-tackles in the NFL. I think he has capability, one of being the best of all-time. He moves so well for being whatever weight he's at and how big he is. It's just really awesome being able to work together with him and make each other better and build this offensive and defensive line, because I feel like that's going to be the heartbeat of this team, how well we control the line of scrimmage. Being able to work with him is a real blessing."
DC Shane Bowen: "I'm excited to coach him. I am. He's a proven player in this league. I think the thing is just the continued leadership that comes with his success. Continue to push the envelope in terms of that. But in terms of the play, what he brings out there on Sunday, from what I understand from what he brings day-in and day-out here, I'm excited to have the opportunity to coach him and what he can bring to our defense."
Take a look through Giants in the "Top 100 Players" over the years.
History of Giants in NFL Top 100 Players:
2024: DL Dexter Lawrence (No. 24), OLB Brian Burns (No. 55)
2023: DL Dexter Lawrence (No. 28), RB Saquon Barkley (No. 31)
2022: DL Leonard Williams (No. 97)
2021: CB James Bradberry (No. 74), DL Leonard Williams (No. 84)
2020: RB Saquon Barkley (No. 31)
2019: RB Saquon Barkley (No. 16)
2018: WR Odell Beckham Jr. (No. 77), S Landon Collins (No. 92)
2017: WR Odell Beckham Jr. (No. 8), S Landon Collins (No. 28), CB Janoris Jenkins (No. 54), DT Damon Harrison (No. 96)
2016: WR Odell Beckham Jr. (No. 10), QB Eli Manning (No. 47)
2015: WR Odell Beckham Jr. (No. 32)
2014: S Antrel Rolle (No. 72)
2013: QB Eli Manning (No. 43), DE Jason Pierre-Paul (No. 55), WR Victor Cruz (No. 58)
2012: DE Jason Pierre-Paul (No. 24), QB Eli Manning (No. 31), WR Victor Cruz (No. 39), DE Justin Tuck (No. 62), WR Hakeem Nicks (No. 90)
2011: DE Justin Tuck (No. 60), S Antrel Rolle (No. 68), G Chris Snee (No. 77)
View photos of Dexter Lawrence at the 2024 Pro Bowl Games in Orlando, where Eli Manning coached the NFC team.
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