Archives for April 29, 2016

'The biggest question surrounding Lawson was a shoulder injury that required a medical recheck. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the shoulder will require surgery at some point, likely after the 2016 season. However, the surgery will keep him out 4-6 months whenever he chooses to have it.'

'The initial belief is that Lawson can play through the injury and have the surgery next offseason.'

'Buffalo is in dire need of an edge pass rusher, and Lawson fits that bill. Buffalo ranked 31st out of 32 teams in the NFL last season with only 21 sacks.'

'Second-year Buffalo head coach Rex Ryan is an avid Clemson fan – his son, Seth, is a walk-on wide receiver for the Tigers.'

'Including Lawson, the Bills have now drafted six Clemson players since 2010, more than any other team in the league. He is the third Bills first-round pick from Clemson in that span, joining 2010 No. 9 overall pick C.J. Spiller and 2014 No. 4 overall pick Sammy Watkins. Of the previous picks, only Watkins and 2013 fifth-round pick Jonathan Meeks are still on the Bills roster.'

'He had to wait a little longer to hear his name called than most projected, but Shaq Lawson still made Daniel High School history on Thursday night.'

'"It was the best pre-draft meeting I had," Lawson said. "Everybody else's meetings were uptight and asking me who the fourth president was. And when I went in their meeting room, I just felt laidback. They were talking to me about football."'

'The 21-year-old is 6'3", 249 pounds and exits Clemson after three years, including his junior season which saw him rack up 12.5 sacks. A consensus All-American and first-team All ACC member, Lawson also finished with 25.5 tackles for loss in 2015.'

'Lawson is a very good fit for a Bills team that was near the bottom of the league in getting to the passer last season and then released defensive end Mario Williams. The Bills need someone to play the edge as much, if not more, than any other spot on the field. And Lawson is one of the best in this draft.'

'In a conference call with the Buffalo media, Lawson said there is “no truth whatsoever” to that report, but did say he’s had a minor right shoulder injury since his freshman year, but that it’s never been something that’s bothered him.'

'The 21-year-old was a star a season ago, setting a new career high with 12.5 sacks and led the country with 25.5 tackles for loss to lead the Tigers to an undefeated regular season, ACC title and trip to the national championship game.'

'"Very few times you can go into a draft and have a really big need and that guy standing out like a sore thumb is the guy you want and the guy that fills that need," Whaley said. "We never thought he would drop to us at 19, and when it got closer and closer, we all said let's keep our mouth shut."'

'“It was the best pre-draft meeting I had,” Lawson said. “Everybody else’s meeting was up tight, asking you who the fourth president was. When I went into that meeting room I just felt laid back. Talking to me about football and things like that.”'

'"It taught me some strong values, about being responsible, about having some life structure," Lawson told NFL.com. "The most important lesson I got out of it was time management. You were up early every day for PT (physical training), your face had to be shaved, your shoes had to be shined."'