After a tumultuous stretch in which they were the least winningest football team in the NFL, the New York Giants have quickly turned things around with general manager Joe Schoen leading the way. Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll look to be an excellent combination who will help New York return to prominence.

This offseason was the first time that Schoen had a chance to really make some changes as he continues cleaning up the mess left behind by the previous general manager, Dave Gettleman. While there is still some work to do, the Giants are on the right path.

One of their foundation pieces was actually a Gettleman draft pick. With one of their three first-round picks in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Giants selected Clemson defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.

Lawrence had his fifth-year option picked up, which was a no-brainer as he has developed into a premier defensive tackle. But, he also landed a life-changing extension, as the two sides agreed to a four-year, $90 million deal.

That contract puts Lawrence behind only Aaron Donald and Jeffery Simmons among players at the position in AAV. Coming off his first Pro Bowl season, in which he also earned an All-Pro Second Team nomination, the extension was well deserved.

While Lawrence admitted he wasn’t trying to break records with the extension and was just seeking respect, he does have some major goals set for himself. He is motivated to become one of the very best to ever do it.

“My ultimate goal is to be legendary, to be a Hall of Famer,” Lawrence said, via a transcript from the team. “I got drafted. That’s one step. OK, let’s have a good rookie year. Let’s not make the same mistakes the next year. Let’s keep building until you get to where you’re at, and I’m not where I’m at now, where I want to be. I think it’s just a constant growth, as a person honestly and then as a player.”

Lawrence believes that he is already up there when it comes to best defensive tackles in the NFL and it would be hard to argue against that. He knows that there is a lot more work to do to achieve his goal, but he is willing and ready to continue working and get to that level.

While defensive tackle isn’t always considered a premium position in the NFL, Lawrence has cemented himself as a foundation piece for the Giants. The contract that they agreed to with him shows how much they believe in him as he is a true gamebreaker in the middle of their defensive line.