EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Two more signed and sealed, two more to go.
The Giants announced that defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and cornerback DeAndre Baker – two of their three first-round draft choices – today signed their first NFL contracts. The team has signed eight of its 10 selections in the 2019 draft.
The two players who have yet to conclude their contract negotiations are quarterback Daniel Jones, the sixth overall choice, and Oshane Ximines, the outside linebacker selected in the third round, 95th overall.
Lawrence, 6-4 and 342 pounds, was the 17th overall selection. In three seasons at Clemson, he played in 40 games with 36 starts and was a three-time All-ACC selection and two-time national champion. One of the nation's dominant defensive tackles, his career totals included 145 tackles (74 solo) 19.0 tackles for losses, 10.5 sacks, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, five passes defensed, one interception, and 43 quarterback pressures.
In 2018, Lawrence was a first-team American Football Coaches Association All-America and first‐team All‐ACC selection. He started all 13 games in which he played for the national champion Tigers and was credited with 44 tackles (30 solo), 7.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and 15 quarterback pressures. Lawrence also blocked one kick and score one rushing touchdown.
Baker, 5-11 and 189 pounds, played in 51 games with 34 starts at right cornerback in four seasons at Georgia. His statistics included 116 tackles (83 solo), seven interceptions which he returned for 145 yards (20.7-yard avg.), 24 pass breakups, four tackles for loss, one sack, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
As a senior in 2018, Baker received the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation's best defensive back. He was a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, presented to the nation's top defensive player. Baker was selected first-team All-America by the AP, ESPN.com, AFCA, SI.com, and Walter Camp, and first-team All-SEC by the AP and the league's coaches. He started all 13 games and was credited with 40 tackles (career-high 31 solo), a team-high two interceptions, a career-high 10 pass breakups, two tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
