The Buffalo Bills Select DE Shaq Lawson In 2016 NFL Draft
Tonight, the Bills got tremendous value when they selected Shaq Lawson in the 2016 NFL Draft at number 19 overall. The defensive end out of Clemson is one of the best pass rushers in the draft if not the best rusher.
Check out the below take on Shaq Lawson from NFL Mocks a fellow FanSided site.
"Nearly unblockable at times, Lawson really doesn’t seem to have a limit as a rusher. He uses his hands really well, he changes directions well, he can bend the edge, and he can play with speed, agility, power, or a combination. He is stout against the run, though this is one area of his game where, in reacting to running plays, he may have room for improvement there."
Including this year’s pick, the Bills were supposed to have seven draft picks in the first round since 2010. However, they only had six because in 2014 they traded up with the Cleveland Browns so that they could draft Sammy Watkins at #4 overall and to do that they had to trade away their 2015 first round pick.
More from BuffaLowDown
- Buffalo Bills were ready to trade back if they couldn’t get Dalton Kincaid
- Grading Buffalo Bills drafting Dalton Kincaid in 2023 NFL Draft
- How the Buffalo Bills can win Day 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft
- Buffalo Bills having conversations about trading for DeAndre Hopkins
- Buffalo Bills Draft Rumors: Bills linked to this shocking first round target
2013 was the only year they made a glaring mistake in the first round. That was the year they drafted E.J. Manuel at #16 overall but unfortunately, it has not worked out with him. Some argue that E.J. may technically be the best quarterback who was selected in that draft so it wasn’t a terrible pick, but that’s still kind of a cop out.
The rest of their picks in the first round from 2012 to 2010 were pretty successful picks. They took Stephon Gilmore at #10 in 2012, Marcell Dareus at #3 in 2011 and in 2010 they took C.J. Spiller at #9. All three of these players were highly effective for the Bills and Dareus and Gilmore are still integral members of the team.
The Bills have been pretty successful in the past with their first round picks so there is no reason to believe any different this year. General Manager Doug Whaley really is only responsible for the Sammy Watkins pick. He assisted general manager Buddy Nix when they took E.J. Manuel in 2013 but it’s not clear how much say he had.
The Bills have a lot to look forward to with defensive end Shaq Lawson. Most expert mock drafts had him off the board well before Buffalo would pick and even though Rex Ryan favors players out of Clemson this was no homer pick. They picked the best passing rushing defensive end in the draft and they won’t miss Mario Williams and his lack of effort one bit with the addition of Shaq Lawson.
If you want to get more familiar with their pick check out these videos.