Lawrence absent from Giants workouts, but Harbaugh optimistic - ESPN

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Standout defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence II requested a trade recently and didn't show for the first day of the New York Giants offseason program on Tuesday. It doesn't necessarily mean he will land elsewhere.

Giants coach John Harbaugh expressed optimism during a video call with reporters on Tuesday that the Lawrence situation can eventually get settled, with him remaining in New York. Lawrence has been hoping for a new deal from the Giants for the past two offseasons.

«We'll find out. I think the prospects [of a return] are going to be high because the Giants, speaking for the Giants, we want Dexter here and I believe Dexter wants to be here,» Harbaugh said. «And that's a good formula.»

Lawrence is scheduled to make $20 million this season. That would put him as the 10th highest-paid interior defensive lineman. It's less than players such as Philadelphia's Jordan Davis and Tennessee's John Franklin-Myers.

The Giants don't want to trade Lawrence, a source told ESPN. But it appears they will at least listen to offers. Harbaugh said Tuesday when asked about Kayvon Thibodeaux's future that «everybody is tradable.» Everybody would include Lawrence, for the right price.

Multiple league sources indicated the likely return for Lawrence in a trade would be in the range of a late first-round pick or second-rounder (and more).

Harbaugh was asked directly Tuesday if the Giants are at least open to granting Lawrence's request for a trade.

«I don't know if granting a request is really the right way to say it because it doesn't really work that way,» he said. «It's not like a Christmas gift. It just doesn't work like that. It's business. So the business is to be the best football team that we can be and the