The New York Jets have just traded with the Houston Texans for edge rusher Shaq Lawson, according to Ian Rapoport. The Jets are trading away the sixth round pick they acquired from the 49ers when they traded them linebacker Jordan Willis. The Jets also got a seventh round pick from this last draft in that trade that they used to wheel and deal so this is not a bad trade at all. Very minor compensation, especially for a team like the Jets who need edge help.
Shaq Lawson was the 19th overall pick in 2016. He played his college ball at Clemson. As you guys know I am an ACC football and Clemson fan so I watched a lot of Shaq Lawson. I was a big fan of his coming out of college. I thought he had the potential to become a top edge rusher in the NFL. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened yet.
Lawson was drafted by the Buffalo Bills (which upset me at the time). He spent four seasons with them, accumulating 16.5 sacks, 25 TFLs, 5 forced fumbles, and 10 PDs. His best season came in 2019 when he had 6.5 sacks and 13 TFLs. In 2020 the Buffalo Bills decided to decline Shaq Lawson’s fifth year option, and let him test free agency.
At this point I feel compelled to point out that he was viewed as a total bust in Buffalo and in college he had played outside linebacker. He had transitioned to hand in the dirt defensive end when drafted by the Bills, and as you can see he was labeled a total bust and his fifth year option was declined. This is alarming to me as the Jets, now in the 4-3, will be using Shaq Lawson as a hand in the dirt defensive end which he failed at transitioning to in Buffalo. Maybe he just needs the right coaching, but this is something that needs to be pointed out.
In 2020 the Dolphins signed Shaq Lawson, so now with the Jets, he is definitely making his way around the AFC East. The Dolphins signed him to a 3 year, $30M contract. Lawson tallied just 4 sacks and 4 TFLs for the Dolphins in 2020, and only started seven games. He did have 18 quarterback hits.
Literally a year later, the Dolphins trade Shaq Lawson to the Texans on March 14th, 2021. Two days ago, Jeremy Fowler reported that Shaq Lawson was a possible trade candidate for the Texans and he was listed as a backup on their depth chart. Now Shaq Lawson is a Jet.
I pointed out how much I liked him and his potential when he was drafted, but shown that it hasn’t translated. The scariest part for me is how he has failed transitioning to a hand in the dirt defensive end from a standing linebacker in college. Again I am hoping that good coaching could unleash his potential, but that is a hope at this point. I wouldn’t be surprised if he winds up being a rotational piece behind John Franklin-Myers and Bryce Huff. Shaq Lawson and Huff are gonna battle it out for the defensive end spot opposite JFM most likely. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Joe Douglas is not done yet and still makes another trade for another edge rusher. As Douglas has said he wants to “fill the void” left by Carl Lawson, and Shaq Lawson is not that.