One hundred eight. That's the number that should have the Green Bay Packers' attention.
According to Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis, that's how many pressures Dexter Lawrence has generated when lined up at nose tackle over the past four seasons. The next closest is two-time Pro Bowler Vita Vea, who has just 32 pressures.
Let's say that again. Over the past four seasons, Lawrence has generated 108 pressures when aligned at nose tackle, which is 76(!) more than anyone else in that position.
The Packers just so happen to need help at nose tackle, desperately, which makes the idea of trading for Lawrence even more of a must-have. Let's break it down.
Packers have 108 reasons to trade for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence
So, let's rewind. If you missed it, Lawrence, a three-time Pro Bowler for the New York Giants, has requested a trade. He wants out of New York.
That should be music to Brian Gutekunst's ears, whose Packers team still desperately needs reinforcements along the defensive line despite adding Javon Hargrave in free agency. Hargrave can play at nose tackle, but his strength is his ability to move around and generate interior pass rush. Lawrence has more familiarity at nose tackle and is among the best in the NFL.
Having Lawrence lineup alongside Hargrave and Devonte Wyatt would give the Packers one of the league's scariest defensive interiors.
Lawrence is only a year removed from a career-best nine-sack season. Hargrave, meanwhile, recorded 18.5 sacks in 33 games in Jonathan Gannon's system. They reunite in Green Bay this year.
Just imagine what it would do for Micah Parsons, whose relentless pressure on the edge became the Packers' only pass-rush hope last season. Rashan Gary's zero sacks in the final nine games offered little support, and Green Bay also lost Wyatt and Lukas Van Ness for much of the year due to injury.
It's not the Packers' style to trade draft picks for veteran players, which made their blockbuster move for Parsons last summer all the more stunning. Gutekunst hasn't exactly shown a tendency to enter an "F them picks" phase as we've seen in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. But why not now?
Even if it meant giving away the No. 52 selection in next month's draft, which would leave Green Bay without choices in the opening two rounds, again, why not? Using those picks to land Parsons and Lawrence is quite all right for the Packers.
This is a team with Super Bowl aspirations. They are close, but without serious improvements along the defensive line, an upgrade at cornerback, and better depth along the offensive line, they can forget about it.
Trading for Lawrence would be another game-changing move for this defense. Adding his ridiculous interior pass-rush talent to a defense already boasting Parsons?
Good luck stopping that.