Giants GM Joe Schoen said Thursday that the “dialogue’s good” with Dexter Lawrence’s agents despite the defensive tackle’s spring absence related to his contract situation.
“I’ve talked to Dexter’s representatives this week,” Schoen said. “The dialogue’s good there. It’s hard this time of year. We’re deep into the draft and the draft prep, but we’ve had good conversations with Dexter’s representatives. And we’ll see where that stands moving forward.”
Schoen said “Dexter knows how we feel about him” and “knows he’s an important part of the organization. But the GM said, “there’s a business side to it, too.”
“It takes two to get a deal done,” he added.
Lawrence, 25, is seeking a lucrative contract extension entering the fifth and final year of his rookie deal after making second-team All-Pro in 2022. Jets first-team All-Pro Quinnen Williams, 25, is staying away from Florham Park for the same reason after making first-team All-Pro.
The 49ers’ Javon Hargrave ($21 million), Washington’s Daron Payne ($22.5 million) and Tennessee’s Jeffrey Simmons ($23.5 million) all have gotten paid this offseason to reset the market among defensive tackles not named Aaron Donald ($31 million).
Schoen said the Giants have a “formula” to determine player values internally, which is how they aim to properly compensate a player without letting a market reset dictate the terms.
“We have a formula … based on various factors, so we stay true to that when coming up with value, whether it’s free agency, contract extensions, whatever it may be,” Schoen said. “We have a formula we like to stick to.
“Anytime you’re paying a player whether it’s outside the building or inside the building, we come up with a value of what we think is fair and create a case of why you see the value where it is,” Schoen added. “And it takes two to get a deal done.”
Schoen said he was not sweating Lawrence’s early spring absence.
“What was the quote? ‘It’s April 17,’” Schoen joked, echoing Brian Daboll’s recent message. “I’m not gonna give you that. It’s voluntary. So if Dexter chooses not to be here, that’s his decision … Him showing up for the offseason program is voluntary.”
McKINNEY’S HAND GOOD TO GO?
Giants safety Xavier McKinney couldn’t say early this week if he would still need a splint or protective covering on his left hand this coming season.
“I don’t think so,” he said on Zoom. “We’ll see how it goes. But I don’t think I should [need it], no.”
McKinney, 23, insisted he’s “100 percent” and “hand is good to go” despite breaking his hand during a bye week ATV accident in Cabo last November.
He felt he played well last season when he came back with the hand heavily wrapped and protected.
It’s slightly concerning to hear he may still need the hand protected this season. But McKinney, asked to clarify, had one message to assure the doubters:
“I’ll say this: either way I’m going to play at a high level, and I’m going to leave it at that,” he said.
DRAFT TALK
The only thing Schoen divulged about his NFL Draft plans is that he thinks the Giants will use their No. 25 overall pick in the first round, based on their player grades and how they envision the board falling.
“We have guys in the first round that we like,” Schoen said. “And we’re pretty confident that there will be somebody there when we pick at 25 that we’ll be happy with.”
Schoen didn’t rule out moving up and down the board throughout the weekend, though, either, if the value fits.
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