Texans trade former Clemson star to Jets

The New York Jets are getting the help they need along the defensive line. Today, they traded for defensive end Shaq Lawson from the Houston Texans, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport.

Source: The #Jets are trading for #Texans edge Shaq Lawson.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 29, 2021

Compensation update: The #Jets are sending the SF 6th to Houston for Lawson. https://t.co/vH7ara8v5y

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 29, 2021

On Friday, it was reported that the Texans were heavily discussing trading Lawson in league circles. Alas, today he was dealt for a sixth round pick to the Jets.

Following star free agent acquisition Carl Lawson tearing his Achilles, the Jets had a need at the position. While the former Clemson Tiger hasn’t lived up to his first round selection, Shaq Lawson will have plenty of chances to do so with the Jets in 2021.

More on Shaq Lawson

Evidently, Lawson will never play a game for the Houston Texans, as he arrived this offseason in a trade from the Miami Dolphins. Lawson attended Clemson from 2013 to 2015, and in his three-year career, he tallied 123 tackles (45.5 tackles for loss) and 20 sacks. 

He had four sacks as a freshman, tying the most by a true freshman in Clemson history, though that record was broken in 2016 by Dexter Lawrence. In Lawson’s senior year at Clemson, his 59-tackle (24.5 for loss), 12.5-sack performance made him a consensus All-American.

Lawson was selected in the first round by the Buffalo Bills with the 19th-overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft. He played four seasons with the Bills, totaling 108 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, and 16.5 sacks in 50 games and 17 starts. Then, the Bills declined the fifth-year option on his contract. 

As a result, he became a free agent, and in March of 2020, he signed a three-year, $30 million contract with the Miami Dolphins. Lawson started seven of the 14 games he appeared in while with the Dolphins and had 32 tackles.

Carl Lawson’s Injury

On the other hand, Carl Lawson signed with the Jets this offseason for 3 years, $45,000,000. Lawson was considered one of the biggest free agent signings for the Jets in head coach Robert Saleh’s first offseason.

The injury was a big blow to the Jets defense. Lawson was expected to be the featured pass rusher on the Jets defense and provide much-needed speed off the edge. The Jets have a physical interior presence in third-year defensive lineman Quinnen Williams, who had seven sacks last season.

In Saleh’s defense, Lawson was expected to play a role similar to Nick Bosa in San Francisco. Williams, a disruptive interior presence, was expected to play DeForest Buckner’s role in his time with the 49ers. 

While the two Lawson’s are unrelated, the New York Jets hope that Shaq can help ease the loss of Carl for their defense.

On3’s Simon Gibbs and Tim Verghese contributed to this article.