Buffalo Bills defensive end Shaq Lawson isn’t lacking motivation heading into a contract season.
Declining a fifth-year option tends to do some things for former first-round picks. It can deflate them, or, in an ideal world, can motivate them. Buffalo Bills defensive end Shaq Lawson should be put in the latter category, as he’s entering 2019 knowing full well what’s at stake.
A first-round pick in 2016, Lawson hasn’t lived up to his high draft status. He’s been a solid pass-rusher on the field, tallying eight sacks and 20 career QB hits; but he hasn’t taken the next step nor has he been consistently healthy. In three seasons, he’s missed 13 regular season games due to one of a hamstring, ankle, groin, knee, or shoulder injury.
He’s showed up overweight at camp as well, has been subject to trade rumors, and was replaced by Trent Murphy in the 2018 off-season. In an interview with Matthew Fairburn at The Athletic, general manager Brandon Beane didn’t shy away from viewing Lawson as a disappointment, saying;
"Shaq is a guy that this franchise put a lot of stock in with a first-round pick. It’s no secret he hasn’t lived up to that. Sean and I are very frank. We try not to be rude, but we don’t beat around the bush."
It’s no surprise that the Bills decided to decline the 24-year-old’s fifth-year option. Beane’s lack of optimism around the edge rusher combined with his injury history made it an easy decision to cut a year off of his contract, in turn, saving the team nearly $10 million in 2020.
But Lawson’s still on the roster next year, and he’s looking to make an impact. In an interview with Fairburn at The Athletic, the Clemson product acknowledged that next year is a contract year, and he needs to improve to make it count.
"This year right now, it’s do or die. I have to go crazy. — You try to approach every year like a contract year, but for real, for real this year is a contract year. Shoot, I’m trying to get paid. I need a season, a great season to get there."
Lawson explained that he wants to be the pass-rusher people expected of him in 2016. He noted that he’s getting in shape, and trying to advance his pass-rush.
"I want people to say, ‘Man, where was this three years ago?’ I know what I have to do. I have goals. I’ve been personally thinking about this. I’ve been doing a lot more meditating and getting my body right. — Just trying to take a different approach. — Just trying to develop and taking that pass rush to the next level."
Lawson’s new-found motivation for greatness shouldn’t be surprising for the Bills. Contract years put everything in perspective. For the pass-rusher, it’s showing him that what he’s done hasn’t been enough, if he wants the career he envisioned, he’ll have to work for it.
Entering 2019, Lawson has an uphill battle to start as an edge rusher. Jerry Hughes is entrenched as the starter on the right side, while Murphy should get the nod at the left side. Lawson has historically done his best work on the right side. As it currently he stands, he’s a backup, and will likely be used as a rotational/third-down rusher like he was last year.
Yet, Lawson has an opportunity to contend with Murphy to win the job pass-rushing from the left. The incumbent starter was given a three-year, $22.5 million contract by the Bills last off-season but tallied just four sacks in 13 appearances in 2018.
But, in order to steal that starting job, we’ll need to see a different Lawson. Whether or not that happens will be answered by the end of next season, though, he seems pretty confident that he can be that different player.
"I just need to put in that work, get these sacks, get paid and help this team go to the playoffs and win the Super Bowl. Because if we make it to the playoffs and the Super Bowl, everybody gets paid. You feel me?"
For the sake of Lawson getting paid, by whatever team, and more importantly, the Bills winning the Super Bowl, Bills Mafia should hope that he speaks his words into existence. Considering that the team needs some more pass-rushing help, Lawson teaming up with Ed Oliver, Tremaine Edmunds, Harrison Phillips, and Matt Milano to make a whole, productive group of young front-seven players is in everyone’s best interests.