2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Shaq Lawson

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Shaq Lawson, 6-2/269 Defensive End Clemson

Shaq Lawson Scouting Report
By Charlie Campbell

Strengths:

Smooth pass-rusher

Deceptively athletic

Can beat tackles with speed or power

Flashes strength to shed blocks

Enough quickness to beat tackles

Strong run defender

Can hold his ground at the point of attack

Gap integrity

Awareness

Can close on the quarterback

Gives a second effort to get sacks

Has some variety in pass-rushing moves

Displays some natural pass-rushing skills

Upside

Weaknesses:

Lacks a fit in 3-4 systems

Not explosive off the edge

Not twitchy or very agile

Lacks length

Short

Summary: Over the past few years, Clemson featured a high-powered offense led by some superstar point-producers like Sammy Watkins and DeAndre Hopkins. While those were good Tigers teams, 2015 was Clemson’s best year in decades thanks to a balanced squad that features a tough defense. The best player on that defense, and a top prospect for the 2016 NFL Draft, is junior defensive end Shaq Lawson. After flashing as a backup in 2014, Lawson was very impressive during 2015.

For the season, Lawson totaled 60 tackles, 25.5 tackles for a loss, 12.5 sacks and one forced fumble. He turned in a strong performance against Notre Dame left tackle Ronnie Stanley where he showed the skills to get the better of a future NFL tackle.

Lawson has proven to be a well-balanced defender who can hold his ground against the run and get after the quarterback. He is thickly built and strong at the point of attack. Lawson also shows the strong base to hold his gap and not get pushed around.

Sources view Lawson as a smooth pass-rusher who has some natural pass-rushing skills for the pros. He has shown some variety in moves with a spin move, a bull rush and a speed rush, plus he gives a second effort to get after the signal-caller. Lawson can fight his way through blocks and close on the quarterback. The junior is not an explosive speed rusher or a twitchy athlete like former teammate Vic Beasley, but is effective at getting after the quarterback. Sources say that Lawson is deceptively athletic, and at the combine, he showed that he could play in space as a standup outside linebacker. He also showed more speed than expected in the 40-yard dash with a time of 4.70 seconds.

For the NFL, Lawson could fit in a 3-4 or 4-3 defense. In the latter, he could be an edge-rushing linebacker. In a 4-3 defense, Lawson could be a nice left defensive end with the strength to go against right tackles, and his speed will be more effective against them than it would be versus NFL left tackles.

For the 2016 NFL Draft, sources from a few teams said they have given a second-round grade to Lawson. A few other teams believe that Lawson will be a mid- to late first-round pick. It is very possible that the team that likes him enough to draft him will take him in the first round.



Player Comparison: Elvis Dumervil. Lawson kind of reminds me of a taller, slower, stronger version of Dumervil. Since being drafted by Denver, Dumervil has been a consistent and steady pass-rusher for the Ravens and Broncos. Lawson isn’t as fast as Dumervil off the edge, but Lawson is bigger. Both of them are smooth pass-rushers who display natural skills for getting after the quarterback. In the NFL, I think Lawson will be a similar player to Dumervil, though not quite as good.

NFL Matches: Tampa Bay, Detroit, Oakland, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, Buffalo, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Jacksonville and Baltimore

In the first two rounds of the 2016 NFL Draft, there are a lot of teams that could consider taking a pass-rusher. The Bucs badly need an edge rusher. If Joey Bosa and DeForest Buckner are off the board, sources say Tampa Bay could give consideration to Georgia’s Leonard Floyd, Eastern Kentucky’s Noah Spence, and possibly Lawson to upgrade the pass rush.

In the teens and middle of the second round, there are some options for Lawson. The Lions could use an edge rusher to pair with Ziggy Ansah, while Buffalo could use a replacement for Mario Williams, who departed for the Dolphins via free agency.

Miami has Cameron Wake and Mario Williams for next year, but they’re both aging. Adding a young defensive end will be necessary very soon. Oakland tried Aldon Smith, but obviously can’t count on him to stay on the field. The Raiders signed Bruce Irvin recently, but they could consider more talent at defensive end.

The Falcons badly need an edge rusher to go with Vic Beasley as Atlanta had the smallest sack total in the NFL last year. Lawson could be in play for the Falcons.

The Colts could use a difference-maker and a young pass-rusher to replace Robert Mathis. Cincinnati could use a pass-rusher to go on the other side from Carlos Dunlap.

Cleveland could use a pass-rusher to replace the bust known as Barkevious Mingo. Paul Kruger had only 2.5 sacks in 2015, so if Lawson falls to pick No. 32, the Browns could end his fall.

The Jaguars could use an edge rusher to go with Dante Fowler as their pass defense has been a real weakness. If Lawson slips to the second round, he could be in play for them if they take a defensive back with their first selection. Baltimore needs a young pass-rusher as Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil are aging. Lawson would be a good value at the Ravens’ second-round pick.

2016 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Choose Player 2016 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Home Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State Isaiah Battle, OT, Clemson Vonn Bell, S, Ohio State Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh Kentrell Brothers, LB, Missouri DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon Jonathan Bullard, DT, Florida Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State Le'Raven Clark, OT, Texas Tech Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State Kamalei Correa, OLB, Boise State Su'a Cravens, S, USC Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State Kenneth Dixon, RB, Louisiana Tech Josh Doctson, WR, TCU Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson Spencer Drango, G, Baylor Ezekiel Elliot, RB, Ohio State Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame Jared Goff, QB, California Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama Hunter Henry, TE, Arkansas Austin Hooper, TE, Stanford Germain Ifedi, OT, Texas A&M Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA Willliam Jackson III, CB, Houston Cardale Jones, QB, Ohio State Chris Jones, DT, Mississippi State Karl Joseph, S, West Virginia Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis Nick Martin, C, Notre Dame Braxton Miller, WR, Ohio State Carl Nassib, DE, Penn State Keanu Neal, S, Florida Robert Nkemdiche, DE, Ole Miss Shawn Oakman, DE, Baylor Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama Jalen Ramsey, S, Florida State Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame Eric Striker, OLB, Oklahoma Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss Adolphus Washington, DT, Ohio State Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State Cody Whitehair, OT, Kansas State Duke Williams, WR, Auburn Scooby Wright, LB, Arizona

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