Dexter Lawrence of the Giants has become the NFL sack leader in an unusual way

It most likely won't happen because it almost never happens.

But since Dexter Lawrence isn't getting any smaller, weaker or less willing to dominate, there's certainly a chance the Giants' best player can accomplish what a center back shouldn't have on his resume.

Big Dex could actually finish leading the NFL in sacks this season.

“He's on the right track now, so … he's doing a great job,” inside linebacker Bobby Okereke said Wednesday.

It's one of the many wasteful aspects of this season for the Giants.

They're 2-5 and don't seem to be going anywhere except for Pittsburgh early for a Monday night meeting with the Steelers.

Compounded by another losing season is one of the best stretches for a defensive player in the history of a franchise celebrating its 100th anniversary.

Lawrence leads the NFL with nine sacks in seven games.

That puts him ahead of Will McDonald of the Jets (eight sacks), Aidan Hutchinson of the Lions (7.5 sacks, but is out for the rest of the season), Trey Hendrickson of the Bengals (7) and Kyle Van Noy of the Ravens (7). ).

All of these players make their living as edge rushers, which is where the sack leaders almost always reside. As a 340-pound nose tackle, Lawrence is required to control the running game and advance the pocket with an inside rush.

Sacks are almost never the generous reward.

Of the 33 players who have led the league in sacks since an official stat became available in 1982, only three have lined up inside: Hall of Famer John Randle (15.5 sacks in 1997), La'Roi Glover (17). Sacks in 2000). ) and future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald.

His 20.5 sacks in 2018 not only led the NFL, but also set the standard among interior defensive linemen.

And now Dexter Lawrence comes to try it.

“No, I don’t think anyone would ever guess that a nose tackle would lead the league in sacks,” guard Jon Runyan Jr. said.

With six sacks in the last three games, Lawrence is flirting with rarefied air.

His nine sacks are the most by a Giants player in the first seven weeks of a season since Hall of Famer Michael Strahan had 12.5 in 2001 – the year he broke the NFL record with 22.5 sacks ( tied with the Steelers' TJ Watt since 2021). ).

Leonard Marshall had 11.5 sacks in the first seven games for the Giants in 1985.

The 26-year-old Lawrence is on pace with 22 sacks.

“Honestly, it’s not just me,” Lawrence said. “It’s the game plans, it’s the DBs coverage, it’s also the guys outside of me rushing. I do what I can when I can. Whenever I can do the one-on-one or whenever I have to get on a ball – effort plays – it’s more than what the numbers say that comes with me getting sacks.”

The sacks are up – Lawrence's previous career high for a season was 7.5 in 2022 – but treating centers and guards poorly is a way of life for a player who has signed a four-year deal worth $87.5 million through 2027 .

It's no secret what opponents think of him.

According to Next Gen Stats, Lawrence has been double-teamed on 63.3 percent of his pass-rush snaps this season.

This is the highest rate a player has seen since at least 2018 (at least 100 pass rushes).

“Dexter Lawrence is a problem,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said this week. “He’s a problem in the run game. He is a problem in the passing game. I think he leads the NFL in sacks, but he’s just a dominant, dominant player.”

Thanks largely to Lawrence, the Giants lead the league with 31 sacks, followed by Brian Burns (4) and Azeez Ojulari (4), but well behind their giant teammate.

Runyan spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Packers and knew what it was like to face Lawrence as an opponent.

It's more fun to experience Lawrence as a teammate.

“Every year when you go through the schedule, you think about all the people in front of you,” Runyan said. “I played against the Giants twice, with Dexter as an opponent, and it was always one of those games that you circled around because you knew you were getting one of the best in the business and you had to play your best game when it was that's what it's about.

“But coming here, being on this side and seeing him as more than just a player, as a teammate, as a person, he’s phenomenal in every way.”

Including the one no one saw coming: NFL sack leader.

Two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning advanced to the next level of voting for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class, in a group that includes former Defensive Players of the Year Luke Kuechly and Terrell Suggs and productive tight end Antonio Gates belong.

The Hall announced Wednesday the 50 modern-era candidates who advanced from the original list of 167 after voting by a newly created selection committee.

Next, the full selection committee will whittle the list of nominees down to 25 semifinalists in about four weeks.

Then 15 finalists are selected for the annual pre-Super Bowl meeting that produces the new class.