Carl Lawson named Jets non-QB MVP by NFL.com

Carl Lawson is coming back with a vengeance for the New York Jets in 2022.

After missing the entire 2021 season with an injury, the former Auburn Tigers and Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher wants to make his presence felt for New York’s AFC franchise. Evidently, Kevin Patra of NFL.com believes he can do it — projecting Lawson to be the Jets’ non-quarterback MVP for the 2022 season.

“Here’s a curveball for you. Sure, I could have picked Elijah Moore or C.J. Mosley — both probably safer picks. But where’s the fun in that?” began Patra. “Lawson hasn’t yet played a down for Robert Saleh in New York, losing his entire first season with the Jets after tearing his Achilles in August. But the fit is there. If he comes back healthy, Lawson provides a motor off the edge. Sure, he has just 20 total sacks in four seasons on the field, but he was super disruptive when we last saw him, ranking fourth in pressures and second in QB hits among edge rushers in 2020.

“So imagine Lawson leading the league in sacks in Saleh’s system, as the Jets’ defense soars to new heights. That’s the train I’m jumping aboard here.”

If Robert Saleh is able to get the most out of Carl Lawson, the Jets pass rusher may not just be the team’s MVP — but he’ll throw his hat into conversations for the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award. The former Auburn star has a lot to prove in 2022, and there aren’t many who will doubt his abilities if he can stay healthy.

More on Carl Lawson, New York Jets

Two seasons ago with the Bengals, Lawson recorded just 5.5 sacks but led the league in quarterback knockdowns with 27 and was second in quarterback hits with 32, per NFL NextGen Stats.

Lawson entered the league in 2017 from Auburn. In three seasons played (Lawson missed 2014 with injury) Lawson finished with a career total of 24 tackles for loss and 14 career sacks in just 33 games played. He went on to be drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

As a rookie, Lawson had 8.5 sacks. He struggled to stay healthy in 2018 and 2019, playing in just 19 combined games over the two seasons. In 2020, Lawson played all 16 games before entering free agency and signing with the Jets.