Dexter Lawrence delivering in promise to be unique Giants weapon

When he met the media at the NFL Combine in 2019, Dexter Lawrence sent a message to general managers who might be interested in drafting him. 

“I call myself a once-in-a-generation caliber player,” Lawrence said. 

Lawrence remembers exactly why he said what he said. 

“I just know with my size and athleticism and speed is rare,” he told The Post on Friday, “so I just try to take full advantage of that every day. Now it’s about learning my position continuously and growing and learning better techniques to bring that more out of me.“ 

It is Year 4 for Dexter Lawrence, and in this stunning season of New York Football Giants renaissance, he is offering evidence that he can grow into that kind of player. 

“I believe I can, yes,” Sexy Dexy told The Post. 

Center Jon Feliciano recalls being shocked in training camp when he learned that Sexy Dexy is just 24 (he will turn 25 next month). 

“He can be a force for the next decade,” Feliciano told The Post, “depending on how long he wants to do this. He can give a lot of people a lot of trouble for a very long time.” 

Sexy Dexy went No. 17 overall to the Giants in the 2019 draft, a pick acquired from the Browns in the Odell Beckham Jr. trade. Outside linebacker Oshane Ximines was the third-round return. 

“We got drafted together, so I’ve seen how much he’s grown as a player and just as a human being,” Ximines told The Post. “It’s something exciting to watch every weekend, I just can’t wait to see where it all ends up at the end of the year.” 

Sexy Dexy is a 6-foot-5, 350-or-so-pound dance machine who can somehow be sideline-to-sideline hell on wheels. Nose tackles aren’t supposed to move like he does. He is made for “Dancing With the Stars.” 

“I feel like the play that sums up Dex is that play Week 2 against the Panthers, where Baker Mayfield got out of the pocket and he chased him to the sideline. … He’s 350 pounds doing that, that sums it up right there,” Ximines said. “He’s big, fast, strong. He could really do anything on the football field.” 

Can he chase down Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson on Sunday? 

“We’re gonna find out,” Ximines said, and laughed. 

“[Lamar is] a different speed,” Sexy Dexy said. “It’s a good challenge. I’m ready for it.” 

Sexy Dexy has three sacks in his past two games. His career high is four in 2020. 

“He’s strong, he’s really athletic, I think he has a good feel for the game and feel for your body weight and when to use it against you and how to use it against you,” offensive lineman Nick Gates said. 

Bill Parcells said this the day after Super Bowl XXV: “Power wins football games.” Parcells would have loved Sexy Dexy. “Somebody close to him is Fletcher Cox,” Gates said, referencing the Eagles’ All-Pro lineman. 

Good luck against that bull rush. “I don’t think Fletcher is as big as [Lawrence] is,” Feliciano said, “but I can see what he’s talking about with the length and the power.” 

Safety Julian Love was a fourth-round pick in Sexy Dexy’s draft class. 

“He’s strong, and he is super-light on his feet,” Love said. “For him to be that light on his feet is special, and you don’t see that like really ever.” 

Love marvels at how Sexy Dexy transforms into Sexy Wrecksy on the field. 

“There’s a flip that switched for sure,” Love said. “He’s a guy who’s about his business once the pads get on.” 

On his Instagram page you see and hear him: 

“Hey 17 [Ryan Tannehill]. Stay in the pocket. I want to touch on you legally.” And: “I know you’re looking for the problem. It’s here. The problem is here.” 

Sexy Dexy says: “It kinda just flows. Whatever comes out of my mouth comes out it my mouth. It’s an in-the-moment type thing.” 

“The problem” stands defiantly alongside pal Leonard Williams … the Great Wall of East Rutherford. 

“His arms are super long,” Feliciano said, “so when he sticks his arm in there, you gotta get your hands on him first, but it’s kind of hard when you have a guy with that long arms, and for a big guy, you don’t think he’s that quick. … He’s really quick. … His first two steps are impressive.” 

Lawrence’s steps toward stardom will earn him a big-ticket extension. The Giants exercised the fifth-year option on Sexy Dexy in April. 

“I just play football,” he said. 

If he one day down the road is again calling himself a once-in-a-generation caliber-type player, bet that it will be as a Giant … a giant Giant.