The Miami Dolphins are signing defensive lineman Shaq Lawson to a three-year deal worth $30 million, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Lawson spent the first four years of his career with the Buffalo Bills and is coming off of a 2019 campaign in which he played 15 games and registered 32 tackles, 6.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
The 25-year-old, who played his collegiate football at Clemson, was originally selected by the Bills in the first round (19th pick overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft.
He had a disappointing rookie season, appearing in 10 contests and logging just 13 tackles, a couple of sacks and a forced fumble. Lawson then showed improvement in 2017, participating in 11 games and finishing with 33 tackles, four sacks and a forced fumble.
The Central, S.C. native went on to post very similar numbers in 2018, totaling 30 tackles, four sacks, a couple of forced fumbles and five passes defended in 14 games.
This is certainly a risky deal for the Dolphins, given Lawson's injury history and the fact that his production has been questionable at best since entering the league, but Miami is in desperate need of defensive help, especially in terms of the pass rush, so it's a risk that the Dolphins can afford to take.
Plus, Miami is entering free agency with ample cap room, so Lawson is certainly not the only signing the club will make.
The Dolphins were expected by some to be one of the worst teams in NFL history in 2019, and early on, they played the part, losing their first seven games, but they proceeded to win five of their last nine contests to finish 5-11.
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