Giants Now: Dexter Lawrence named to PFF’s First-Quarter All-Pro Team

Dexter Lawrence named to PFF First-Quarter All-Pro Team

Defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence has broken out in a significant way over the last two seasons.

After a solid start to his NFL career, Lawrence has blossomed into one of the league’s best defensive lineman since the start of the 2022 campaign, evidenced by his back-to-back selections as a second-team All-Pro.

Based on the first four games of the season, he could be headed towards a third All-Pro honor.

Pro Football Focus released their 2024 First-Quarter All-Pro Team this week, where Lawrence was one of two interior defensive linemen recognized.

“Lawrence’s 18 total pressures trail only Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs among players on the defensive interior,” wrote PFF’s Gordon McGuinness. “He has excelled against the run, too.”

The 26-year-old has registered three sacks through the first four games, which puts him on pace to shatter his previous career-high of 7.5 sacks set in 2022.

His 18 total pressures also puts him on pace to break his previous high of 65 pressures, which he reached last season.

Additionally, Lawrence has registered 12 total tackles (eight solo), six quarterback hits and a pass defensed.

“Everybody knows how good of a player he is and how much he can affect the game and affect the quarterback, it’s huge,” quarterback Daniel Jones said last week. “No one’s surprised, and he’s played well.”

While the talented defensive lineman certainly deserves the praise for his performance, he is far from concerned about stats and accolades.

“I don’t look at the stats at the end of the game,” Lawrence told reporters prior to last week’s game against the Cowboys. “I don’t look at the praises. I don’t look at nothing. I just prepare for the next week. Because at the end of the day, the goal is to win the Super Bowl. My stats don’t matter. If I have none and then we win, then I’m happy. It doesn’t matter to me. I just want to win.”

The other players named to the PFF First-Quarter All-Pro team along the defensive line include Pittsburgh’s Cameron Heyward on the interior, and Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt and Detroit’s Aidan Hutchinson on the edge.