Bengals OT, strength coach sent simultaneous Sexy Dexy dance memes to celebrate trade
· Yahoo Sports
The Cincinnati Bengals stunned the NFL on Saturday, April 18, by trading for New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.
Such a high-profile deal is out of character for the old-school Cincinnati franchise. The Bengals, normally conservative with their draft picks, sent the No. 10 overall selection to the Giants for Lawrence.
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Reaction came swiftly from across the NFL with many experts saying the Bengals overpaid for the 28-year-old Lawrence. But Cincinnati players are excited about the opportunity to upgrade a porous defense after a 6-11 campaign.
Cincinnati Enquirer beat reporter Kelsey Conway shared right tackle Amarius Mims’ reaction from the Bengals locker room on Monday, April 20.
“The first person I texted was Joey Boese, my strength coach,” Mims said. “And it’s crazy … we sent the same meme at the same time. It was Dexter doing his little dance, or whatever.
“Hey, man, you get a guy like that in your locker room, man, that’s a whole like team changer, not just a defensive changer. … That man is literally the best D tackle in the NFL, if you ask me.”
Mims, the Bengals’ No. 18 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Georgia, has started 30 games, mostly at right tackle. In 2025, he turned in an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 67.6. That ranked him 42nd out of 89 tackles.
Newly signed Cincinnati Bengals defense tackle Dexter Lawrence speaks in a press conference for the first time since joining the team. | The Enquirer via Imagn Images
Lawrence, who signed a $28 million extension with Cincinnati after the trade, is coming off a down season. He had career lows with a half-sack and 31 tackles.
Still, he commands double and triple teams from offensive linemen, which can provide opportunities for other defenders. The Cincinnati defense ranked 31st in total yards allowed (380.9 per game) and 30th in points allowed (28.9).
Mims said the Bengals’ offensive game plan focused on stopping Lawrence when Cincinnati met the Giants in 2024. The Bengals earned a 17-7 victory in that game, although Lawrence recorded a sack.
“I’m glad to be his teammate,” Mims said. “I’d rather block him in practice than block him in the game. I’m all for it. I’m glad he’s here.”