RD 1, Pick 19: DE Shaq Lawson, Clemson University

[26CornerBlitz]

@AdamSchefter

Bills DE Shaq Lawson said he doesn't need shoulder surgery. At least 6 teams said they believe he will need shoulder surgery at some point.

[BADOLBILZ]

Very underwhelming, uninspired pick but as long as they don't use him as an excuse to pass on other pass rush prospects in this draft or future drafts it is just an isolated issue.

 

If you want to know what I mean......think Chris Kelsay and the years of suffering we had to endure because they adored his high motor.

 

Shaq is not really an NFL pass rusher at this point and as I explained in the face of the Reggie Ragnuts/Jarran Reed love the first round is about passing and stopping the pass game and true to form run gamers were all but banned from the first round.

 

Shaq doesn't have the bend or the frame or the long arms or handwork of a pass rusher and it shows in how he is always leaning on offensive tackles.....that's the surest way for a 260# DE to get and stay blocked in the NFL.

 

He is an overrated try-hard IMO and it seems like every year there are 1-2 of these types of guys that just HAVE to be selected by an NFL team because they have good character and a high motor.

 

My comparisons are Courtney Upshaw and Melvin Ingram.

 

Those are replacement level players and nothing you'd pay much for in free agency.

 

Ingram had something of a breakout year this year.......but he's been a 4 sack kinda guy....and he and Shaq are VERY similar athletes.......if anything Ingram might have been a bit more athletic having dropped into coverage at lot at South Carolina.

 

I'd love it if I am wrong and he turns into one of those players who transcends his physical ability and dominates behind the LOS.......Tamba Hali? I'll take that!!..... but on the hoof he's not that impressive and I don't really see where Mayock gets that comparison.

 

My pick, as always would have been a QB......Paxton Lynch was the top one there IMO.

 

Myles Jack was the best player in the draft IMO but I get why they passed......if the knee is that bad then so be it.......but for those who assume microfracture is a death sentence, Bruce Smith had it done and played another 10 years, was NFL DPOY etc. Great talents who are committed to the game can overcome it. Jack is a rare talent...a Sammy Watkins like talent. Jadeveon Clowney never wanted to be great. I don't think his knee is what's holding him back at this point.

 

With an understanding of why they passed on Lynch and Jack......I think they made a mistake passing on William Jackson........Cinci once again rakes a top 10 talent because other teams are reaching around it for need.

[Peter]

he is a power rusher and Hughes is a speed rusher. He's different than the Huges role - he's the Mario role in this scheme. For comparison, a player like Noah Spence would fit into the Hughes role. Lawson is more like Bosa. They are similar players.

The power in Lawson's game makes him a very productive edge defender against the run. He consistently controls his opponent at the line. consistently setting the edge will give him tons of value in this defense. Additionally, he's displays great football instincts in being able to quickly diagnose the play.

The biggest question that teams try to find out with these guys is whether they love football and how passionate and relentless they are. He has no quit in his game. Once you get to the NFL and everyone has talent, these characteristics often prove to be the difference. He checks all the boxes plus he's a leader on and off the field.

Also Darron Lee has never played in the middle or as an ILB. Not to say he can't, but it's a projection that he can. If he came back this year they were going to let him play inside to get that experience, but he didn't. He is a great pick for the Jets, I like it. But he wouldn't have played in the middle for the Bills, at least not right away.

Well said.

[bigK14094]

Shaq Lawson.....Manny Lawson.......starting a new name cluster.....Williams was getting full.

[Beerball]

I'm wondering what this means for Manny. Is he relegated to a backup SLB role or does he play nickel LB with Zach Brown?

He gave tremendous effort last year, but, when Manny Lawson is a focal point of your defense you have problems.

[BuffaloBillsForever]

Can he drop into coverage?

[Coach Tuesday]

Very underwhelming, uninspired pick but as long as they don't use him as an excuse to pass on other pass rush prospects in this draft or future drafts it is just an isolated issue.

 

If you want to know what I mean......think Chris Kelsay and the years of suffering we had to endure because they adored his high motor.

 

Shaq is not really an NFL pass rusher at this point and as I explained in the face of the Reggie Ragnuts/Jarran Reed love the first round is about passing and stopping the pass game and true to form run gamers were all but banned from the first round.

 

Shaq doesn't have the bend or the frame or the long arms or handwork of a pass rusher and it shows in how he is always leaning on offensive tackles.....that's the surest way for a 260# DE to get and stay blocked in the NFL.

 

He is an overrated try-hard IMO and it seems like every year there are 1-2 of these types of guys that just HAVE to be selected by an NFL team because they have good character and a high motor.

 

My comparisons are Courtney Upshaw and Melvin Ingram.

 

Those are replacement level players and nothing you'd pay much for in free agency.

 

Ingram had something of a breakout year this year.......but he's been a 4 sack kinda guy....and he and Shaq are VERY similar athletes.......if anything Ingram might have been a bit more athletic having dropped into coverage at lot at South Carolina.

 

I'd love it if I am wrong and he turns into one of those players who transcends his physical ability and dominates behind the LOS.......Tamba Hali? I'll take that!!..... but on the hoof he's not that impressive and I don't really see where Mayock gets that comparison.

 

My pick, as always would have been a QB......Paxton Lynch was the top one there IMO.

 

Myles Jack was the best player in the draft IMO but I get why they passed......if the knee is that bad then so be it.......but for those who assume microfracture is a death sentence, Bruce Smith had it done and played another 10 years, was NFL DPOY etc. Great talents who are committed to the game can overcome it. Jack is a rare talent...a Sammy Watkins like talent. Jadeveon Clowney never wanted to be great. I don't think his knee is what's holding him back at this point.

 

With an understanding of why they passed on Lynch and Jack......I think they made a mistake passing on William Jackson........Cinci once again rakes a top 10 talent because other teams are reaching around it for need.

My thoughts exactly. Ingram is a good comparison but you're right, Ingram is even more athletic and was used to playing coverage by the time he was drafted. Lawson is a locker room leader but not an elite athlete. I wanted Jack at that pick or if not, take the trade down opportunity. The Rex connection destroys this pick for me - they again bent to their vociferous head coach and it's costing them wins. Pisses me off.

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

Very underwhelming, uninspired pick but as long as they don't use him as an excuse to pass on other pass rush prospects in this draft or future drafts it is just an isolated issue.

 

If you want to know what I mean......think Chris Kelsay and the years of suffering we had to endure because they adored his high motor.

 

Shaq is not really an NFL pass rusher at this point and as I explained in the face of the Reggie Ragnuts/Jarran Reed love the first round is about passing and stopping the pass game and true to form run gamers were all but banned from the first round.

 

Shaq doesn't have the bend or the frame or the long arms or handwork of a pass rusher and it shows in how he is always leaning on offensive tackles.....that's the surest way for a 260# DE to get and stay blocked in the NFL.

 

He is an overrated try-hard IMO and it seems like every year there are 1-2 of these types of guys that just HAVE to be selected by an NFL team because they have good character and a high motor.

 

My comparisons are Courtney Upshaw and Melvin Ingram.

 

Those are replacement level players and nothing you'd pay much for in free agency.

 

Ingram had something of a breakout year this year.......but he's been a 4 sack kinda guy....and he and Shaq are VERY similar athletes.......if anything Ingram might have been a bit more athletic having dropped into coverage at lot at South Carolina.

 

I'd love it if I am wrong and he turns into one of those players who transcends his physical ability and dominates behind the LOS.......Tamba Hali? I'll take that!!..... but on the hoof he's not that impressive and I don't really see where Mayock gets that comparison.

 

My pick, as always would have been a QB......Paxton Lynch was the top one there IMO.

 

Myles Jack was the best player in the draft IMO but I get why they passed......if the knee is that bad then so be it.......but for those who assume microfracture is a death sentence, Bruce Smith had it done and played another 10 years, was NFL DPOY etc. Great talents who are committed to the game can overcome it. Jack is a rare talent...a Sammy Watkins like talent. Jadeveon Clowney never wanted to be great. I don't think his knee is what's holding him back at this point.

 

With an understanding of why they passed on Lynch and Jack......I think they made a mistake passing on William Jackson........Cinci once again rakes a top 10 talent because other teams are reaching around it for need.

 

There's our ray of sunshine

[26CornerBlitz]

Bills GM: 'Rex is salivating' over Shaq Lawson

By way of the direct replacement theory, the Buffalo Bills were beyond thrilled to swap departed and disgruntled edge rusher Mario Williams for their first-round draft pick, Shaq Lawson.

 

"Very few times that you can go into a draft and have a really big need and that guy there standing out like a sore thumb is the guy you want and the guy that fills that need," general manager Doug Whaley said, via The Buffalo News. "We're extremely excited to have Shaq Lawson. We never thought he'd drop to us at 19."

[YoloinOhio]

My thoughts exactly. Ingram is a good comparison but you're right, Ingram is even more athletic and was used to playing coverage by the time he was drafted. Lawson is a locker room leader but not an elite athlete. I wanted Jack at that pick or if not, take the trade down opportunity. The Rex connection destroys this pick for me - they again bent to their vociferous head coach and it's costing them wins. Pisses me off.

so all the NFL scouts and analysts are wrong about Lawson? He's been consistently ranked as a top 15 talent in this draft and top 2 pass rusher with Bosa. You act as if the Bills took him only because Rex has connections to Clemson (like it is a negative) and he was some kind of reach. Clemson has incredible talent on both sides of the ball. We are lucky that he has a connection there tbh. Jmo

[26CornerBlitz]

2016 NFL Draft: Quick-snap grades for AFC teams

The 2016 NFL Draft was filled with twists and turns few could have seen coming. While the Jets are among teams who snagged a key missing piece, which teams missed the boat?

 

Buffalo Bills

Draft pick: Shaq Lawson (No. 19 overall)

Day 1 grade: A

The skinny: Lawson isn't the physically-dominating player Mario Williams is, but he's a good find here in a draft without a lot of top-rated pass rushers. He was also the best player available, so fans should be happy with the selection.

[nucci]

so all the NFL scouts and analysts are wrong about Lawson? He's been consistently ranked as a top 15 talent in this draft and top 2 pass rusher with Bosa. You act as if the Bills took him only because Rex has connections to Clemson (like it is a negative) and he was some kind of reach. Clemson has incredible talent on both sides of the ball. We are lucky that he has a connection there tbh. Jmo

Yes, we are fans.....we know more than anyone.....

[Coach Tuesday]

so all the NFL scouts and analysts are wrong about Lawson? He's been consistently ranked as a top 15 talent in this draft and top 2 pass rusher with Bosa. You act as if the Bills took him only because Rex has connections to Clemson (like it is a negative) and he was some kind of reach. Clemson has incredible talent on both sides of the ball. We are lucky that he has a connection there tbh. Jmo

So why didn't he go Top 15? He's a "hair on fire" player with limited athleticism who made plays on a stacked defense. His passrush moves are non-existent - lean and push. IMO he's just a role player not an elite talent. But I guess Rex needs someone who will set the edge without complaint and won't divide the locker room.

[LeGOATski]

My thoughts exactly. Ingram is a good comparison but you're right, Ingram is even more athletic and was used to playing coverage by the time he was drafted. Lawson is a locker room leader but not an elite athlete. I wanted Jack at that pick or if not, take the trade down opportunity. The Rex connection destroys this pick for me - they again bent to their vociferous head coach and it's costing them wins. Pisses me off.

I'd be pissed too, if I were you.

[26CornerBlitz]

2016 NFL Draft: Quick-snap grades for AFC teams

The 2016 NFL Draft was filled with twists and turns few could have seen coming. While the Jets are among teams who snagged a key missing piece, which teams missed the boat?

 

Buffalo Bills

Draft pick: Shaq Lawson (No. 19 overall)

Day 1 grade: A

The skinny: Lawson isn't the physically-dominating player Mario Williams is, but he's a good find here in a draft without a lot of top-rated pass rushers. He was also the best player available, so fans should be happy with the selection.

[Coach Tuesday]

I'd be pissed too, if I were you.

http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2016/04/29/lawson-seth-ryan-dropped-hints/

 

This is not how a professional organization operates.

[Bookie Man]

Good player. Don't love or hate the pick. I keep reading reports about his explosive first step. But whenever you watch him, he is almost always a split second slower off the line than everyone else. Like he is trying too hard not to be offsides. That seems quite coachable and it would have a huge impact on his game imo.

[BuffaloBillsForever]

So why didn't he go Top 15? He's a "hair on fire" player with limited athleticism who made plays on a stacked defense. His passrush moves are non-existent - lean and push. IMO he's just a role player not an elite talent. But I guess Rex needs someone who will set the edge without complaint and won't divide the locker room.

 

Ryans defenses also calls for DE's dropping into coverage as well. Would rather see a DE with more of a Chandler Jones skill set. Not sure about how good of a fit he is. LB's and secondary are the key to his scheme not lineman. Would rather have them go LB in the 1st.

 

However, Bills have done far worse in the 1st round.

Edited April 29, 2016 by BuffaloBillsForever

[26CornerBlitz]

 

Ryans defenses also calls for DE's dropping into coverage as well. Not sure about how good of a fit he is. LB's and and secondary are the key to his scheme not lineman. Would rather have them go LB.

 

However, Bills have done far worse in the 1st round.

 

He's going to play OLB.

[eball]

http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2016/04/29/lawson-seth-ryan-dropped-hints/

 

This is not how a professional organization operates.

 

Surely you can't be serious. What, in particular, was so unprofessional given the unique circumstances of a current coach's son attending the same university as a draftable senior?