The Buffalo Bills had plenty of players who had solid seasons in 2018, but one in particular stands out for improving after a tough 2017.
The Buffalo Bills drafted Shaq Lawson in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Then his name was brought up in potential trades before last season started. In fact, whether he would even receive a lot of playing time was in question.
Lawson bounced back and had himself a nice year. That is why he showed up as a Bills player who leveled up in an ESPN.com article going through improved players for all 32 NFL teams.
From the article:
"The 2016 first-round pick looked to be a bust after he did not fit in former coach Rex Ryan’s 3-4 scheme as a rookie and did not seem to be a culture fit for coach Sean McDermott in 2017. That changed in 2018; Pro Football Focus graded Lawson as the NFL’s 20th-best edge rusher. GM Brandon Beane said Lawson’s professionalism went up “leaps and bounds” in his third season."
The professionalism mentioned was especially key when considering the type of operation Sean McDermott runs.
Lawson’s season saw him record 30 total tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles. He also appeared in 14 games, which was a new career-high.
His 2018 performance did not ensure him a sure spot on the team in the long-term. However, it did put him back in the rotation and as someone who could be kept around for another contract. We will know more about that when the Bills decide whether or not to offer Lawson a fifth year on his deal later this offseason.
For now, Bills fans can be happy that a former first-round pick actually contributed to the team. He was not one of Brandon Beane’s picks, but he will stick around if he keeps producing at a high level.
It is always nice when players from a previous regime can play well enough to avoid so much roster turnover when new people take over. It is also just frustrating as a fan to see so many first-round picks flame out after one contract.