There is Aaron Donald and then there are all others, when it comes to defensive tackle play in the NFL. 

The same with salaries and contracts for the big guys up front. 

There is Donald and then there is … Dexter Lawrence?

This could become the new pecking order at a position that has enjoyed a financial boon this offseason. 

Lawrence is not planning to attend Monday’s opening of the Giants’ voluntary workout program, hoping to spark negotiations on a new deal.

The way the market has evolved, there is every reason to believe Lawrence wants to be second in line, behind only Donald, a future Hall of Famer, as the second highest-paid defensive tackle in the league.

Donald’s three-year, $95 million deal ($46.5 million guaranteed) averages $31.6 million annually. 

Lawrence is not rising into that stratosphere. 

The next target is Jeffery Simmons, who this offseason signed a four-year, $94 million extension ($66 million guaranteed) with the Titans, averaging $23.5 million per year. 

That is the goal for Lawrence to reach, or surpass.

Then there is Daron Payne, who received a four-year, $90 million deal ($59 million guaranteed) to stay with the Commanders, an average of $22.5 million annually. 

Simmons, Lawrence and Payne are all 25 years old. 

It stands to reason Lawrence will surpass the contract Javon Hargrave, 30, received to go from the Eagles to the 49ers — four years, $84 million ($40 million guaranteed) for an average of $21 million per year.

Lawrence and Payne are represented by the same agent, Joel Segal, who could not be reached for comment.

The Giants want to get this done. 

General manager Joe Schoen arrived last year and immediately signed off on Lawrence’s fifth-year option of $10.7 million for the 2023 season. 

Schoen knew Lawrence was a quality player. 

In their year together, Schoen got to know Lawrence on and off the field, and the determination was made to invest in him long-term. 

It did not hurt that Lawrence put together his finest season, with career-highs in tackles (68), sacks (7.5), tackles for loss (7) and quarterback hits (28).

Lawrence for the first time was selected as a team captain.

“Dexter’s great,” Schoen said earlier this offseason. “Leader, great player, did a good job for us this year so he’s definitely somebody we will talk to and we’d like to have him here for a long time”

The timing could not be better for Lawrence, as the money at his position has skyrocketed. 

Schoen acknowledged this and possibly foreshadowed a challenging negotiation when he said this at the NFL scouting combine in late February: “That’s a little bit trickier, the defensive tackle market, when you look at the gap in-between the highest paid and the next guy.”

Does Lawrence deserve to make more than Payne and as much or more than Simmons? 

The Giants selected Lawrence with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. 

At No. 19, the Titans took Simmons, so they are an apropos comparison. 

In 64 games, Lawrence has 213 tackles, 16.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss and 58 quarterback hits. 

Simmons in 56 games has 189 tackles, 21 sacks, 28 tackles for loss and 46 quarterback hits. 

Simmons has been named to two Pro Bowls, Lawrence one.  

Lawrence is a dominant run defender but in some eyes might slightly lag behind Simmons as a pass rush finisher. 

Lawrence has also not come close to the 11.5 sacks in a season Payne put up in 2022.

If Lawrence does get what he wants and moves in alongside or ahead of Simmons, it might be a temporary ranking behind only Donald.

Chris Jones of the Chiefs is in the latter stages of a four-year, $80 million deal and he is likely to receive a massive extension later in the summer. 

Quinnen Williams, taken No. 3 overall by the Jets in 2019, ranks as high, or higher, than draft classmates Lawrence and Simmons and with a new deal could move in behind Donald.

Schoen at the NFL owners meetings in late March said, “we’ve had good conversations with the representatives” and revealed “we’re in negotiations” to extend Lawrence. 

What the Giants view as a great package at this point is not enough to get it done and, for now, Lawrence will stay away from the team facility.