Buffalo Bills: Breaking Down First Round Pick Shaq Lawson
By Paul Taylor
We take an in-depth look at first round draft pick Shaq Lawson, by analyzing the pros and cons and seeing what the defensive end brings to the Buffalo Bills.
Heading into the draft, the Buffalo Bills biggest need was arguably on the defensive line. This need came about as a result of the release of Mario Williams, Kyle Williams recovering from surgery/getting older and Jarius Wynn‘s transition to the linebacker position.
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In that respect, perhaps the only surprise was the fact Shaq Lawson was still available when it was the Bills turn to pick at number 19. Regardless, they took full advantage of their good fortune, by snapping up the Clemson Tigers defensive end.
While the general consensus is that Buffalo did better than expected, is Lawson really a can’t-miss prospect? Let’s break down the pick in detail and see what the team is getting.
High school: Rated as a four-star recruit by rivals.com and the number one prep school prospect in the the nation by 247sports.com.
College: Clemson University Fighting Tigers
Career highlights: Consensus All-American, first-team All-ACC in 2015. Helped Clemson to an undefeated regular season, ACC title and appearance in the national championship game.
Key stats: Finished among the nation’s leaders in tackles for loss and sacks in 2015, with 25.5 and 12.5 respectively. Second in the nation among defensive linemen, with 17 “stuffs”. Despite being a backup in his first two seasons, he still became the first Clemson defender since Anthony Simmons in 1995-96 to have double-figure tackles for a loss as a freshman and sophomore.
Combine results: Ranked joint-second among defensive linemen in the 20-yard shuttle, fourth in the 40-yard dash and three-cone drill, joint-fifth in board jump.
Pros: Received the second-highest run defense grade among edge defenders in this year’s draft. Non-stop motor, highlighted by relentlessly rushing the passer. Superior strength, although he doesn’t solely rely on this. Regardless, he should be able to exploit this advantage in the pros. Excellent hands. Extremely effective spin move and bull rush. Versatility allows him to play inside on the line, and at the outside linebacker position.
Cons: Some athletic limitations for the defensive end position, which impact his ability as a pure pass rusher. Biggest concern surrounds his durability. Will need shoulder surgery at some point, although he is expected to wait until after the 2016 season. Widely predicted to see effort/cleanup sacks decrease at the NFL level.
Overall: Has an excellent football character and plays with an infectious energy. Very disciplined, which can only be a good thing for a Rex Ryan team which had issues in this area last season. Instincts and toughness should help him challenge for a starting spot right away. Perfect mentality and physicality for the blue collar environment of Western New York. A fantastic pick for the Bills, with the pros far outweighing any cons.
Next: Bills all-time top 10 first round draft picks
What is your take on the Bills drafting Shaq Lawson in the first round? Do you agree with the selection, or is there someone else you would have preferred them to go for with the 19th pick? Let us know in the comments section below.