When the Bills drafted Shaq Lawson with the first round pick in the 2016 NFL draft, Rex Ryan expected a high level of defensive production. Instead, Buffalo watched Lawson undergo shoulder surgery and miss several games due to his injury. Both he and Reggie Ragland left the Bills thin on defense because of their injuries. When Lawson finally did get on the field, he wasn't exactly spectacular.
Shaq Lawson's Rookie NFL Season.
Lawson got his chance to play for the Buffalo Bills after missing the first six games. He did play in the final 10 games, but accumulated only one start.
Lawson was off to a decent start, with three sacks in his first four NFL games, but his performance could really only be described as lackluster.
Even Lawson himself admits that the Buffalo Bills playbook was complicated and difficult to learn. Rex Ryan employed a defense that was anything but simple, and Shaq worried that he would blow assignments on every play. Under Sean McDermott, who has chosen a much easier defense, Lawson will just need to attack instead of worrying about where he needs to be on every single play.
Shaq Lawson's Clemson Career.
In college, Lawson had 20 sacks, two forced fumbles, and 167 tackles in just 41 games. He also put up gaudy statistics in 2015, accumulating 12.5 sacks for the Tigers in his final season.
Because of his impressive performances, Shaq Lawson was widely regarded as a first round pick and had even caught the attention of former Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott.
Now that McDermott and Lawson are on the same team, Lawson could be primed for a breakout season with the Bills. And the Bills linebacker definitely expects to make a huge jump in his second year.
Lawson's Prediction.
According to Lawson, he is going to "live up to the expectations of being a first round pick." Shaq also stated that he would "give the Bills a reason why they drafted him with a first round pick." He also referenced his college career, stating that he would his performances this year would be "on par with the ones he had at Clemson."
The Buffalo Bills are certainly hoping that Shaq Lawson will become the dominant force that he predicts he will be.
Last season, the Bills struggled on defense and could really use a pass rusher like Lawson to come alive and get after the quarterback. Without a contribution from him, the Bills could struggle and miss the playoffs for another consecutive year. Bills fans just hope that Shaq's prediction of a breakout season will come true.
