Kansas City Chiefs trade idea: Shaq Lawson could bolster pass rush

As we look at potential trade ideas for the Kansas City Chiefs in training camp, Shaq Lawson is a name that makes a lot of sense for Brett Veach.

Last summer, Brett Veach proved that there’s absolutely no down time for the Kansas City Chiefs. With preseason acquisitions like the trade for Reggie Ragland and another for Cam Erving, Veach will trade with any one at any time.

Because of that, we thought we’d introduce a few trades this offseason that might make sense for the Chiefs, just in case Veach wants to read and get inspired. First up is an intriguing pass rushing prospect who could use a change of scenery about as much as anyone in the National Football League: Shaq Lawson.

A quick primer on why you should even care. Lawson was a beast of a prospect coming out of Clemson only three years ago and is still only 24 (as old as Chris Jones and two years younger than Xavier Williams). Even as a freshman, Lawson showed off his pass rushing skills with 4 sacks (tied for most as a frosh) and 9.5 tackles for loss. His sophomore year, he was again a rotational player in all 13 games (same as his freshman year) when he added another 11.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.

During his junior year (and final college season), he broke out as a full-time starter for the first time on a loaded Clemson team and became an All-American. The final tally was an incredible 24.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks and a first round grade from anyone who would discuss the draft. For Lawson, it was a good time to jump and earn the check he’d been working so hard toward.

A quick aside. Check out these quick NFL Combine measurables:

Player A: 6’5, 269 lbs., 40 yard dash (4.86 seconds), Shuttle time (4.21 seconds)
Player B: 6’3, 269 lbs., 40 yard dash (4.70 seconds), Shuttle time (4.21 seconds)

The first player is Joey Bosa of the L.A. Chargers. The second is Lawson. These measurements are not perfect, of course. Dadi Nicolas set the Combine on fire that same year, so we admit it’s limited. We’re also cherry picking prospects here, but Lawson looked very, very good here, just as he did in college. In other words, the core athleticism and size is there to be among the best.

It’s also important to note here that the Chiefs were in on Lawson. They used one of their limited pre-draft official interviews to bring in Lawson for a visit, so clearly they liked him enough to check him out. Lawson was also long gone by the time the Chiefs were on the clock. (Remember this was the draft John Dorsey traded back into the second round and got extra picks and Chris Jones.)

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The Buffalo Bills landed Lawson in the first round at No. 19 overall in the 2016 NFL Draft, a choice of Doug Whaley. Unfortunately, shortly after the draft, the Bills announced Lawson had a pre-existing shoulder condition that would necessitate preseason surgery. The end result was a limited rookie season with only a single start among 10 games to account for his work. It’s not surprising given that rookies need every rep during minicamp and training camp to prepare for the season.

One year later, Buffalo fired Whaley and brought in former Carolina Panthers exec Brandon Beane. Suddenly any investment and/or allegiance to Lawson (along with a host of others) went out the window. The Kansas City Chiefs know this firsthand since they swooped in a year ago and grabbed Reggie Ragland for a song. Lawson went from having time on his side and the benefit of the doubt to suddenly being under suspicion at all times.

Notice the difference in tone when discussing Lawson in public. When the team first announced his surgery, Whaley praised Lawson saying he was “putting the team first” by even having the surgery rather than trying to play through it. He also called him a “great example.” Now check out this quote from Beane, the newer GM, from two weeks ago:

"“Shaq is a guy that this franchise put a lot of stock in with a first-round pick [in 2016],” Beane said. “It’s no secret he hasn’t lived up to that. Sean [McDermott] and I are very frank. We try not to be rude, but we don’t beat around the bush…”"

To Beane’s credit, it’s not the worst idea to push a former first round pick to blossom as envisioned. Lawson’s second year featured more injuries and not so many sacks. (His official totals were 33 tackles, 4 sacks in 10 starts.) Maybe the organization has decided a tough love approach could work after trying to be more nurturing for those two years. Maybe they’re floating the idea that he could be on the block to entice teams to inquire. Hard to say.

Here’s the reality facing Lawson this year: the Bills have largely moved on. With the addition of Trent Murphy, Lawson will see his reps decrease which also means his chance to make an impact is also lost. He could certainly remain on the roster since a team can never have enough pass rushers, but the Bills are also not putting themselves in a position where they simply have to see Lawson perform or else.

If this seems a familiar scenario, it is. This is exactly how some would describe the Chiefs’ relationship with Dee Ford at this point, although two things need to be said:

Ford and Lawson are totally different players, so it’s reductionistic to say, “Nope. We already have one player like that.”
Ford has shown much more at the NFL level, as he even ranked among the NFL’s top 15 in sacks as recently as 2016.

What is clear is that the Chiefs are tired of searching for some help opposite Justin Houston given their consecutive use of second round picks on further pass rushing help in Breeland Speaks and Tanoh Kpassagnon. If Ford can stay healthy, those guys become rotational young players who can learn and grow and keep the defensive front fresh. If not, the Chiefs have some options. That’s how it feels like the Bills are treating Lawson.

The Chiefs side

Adding Lawson at this point could be almost too many pass rushers although the maxim says that’s not possible. The Chiefs need to know if they have something in Tanoh Kpassagnon and that takes time and reps. The Chiefs need to give Dee Ford the chance to work back into the rotation, and they also have Breeland Speaks waiting in the wings. But Lawson is under contract for two more years and the Chiefs would also control his fifth year option.

Consider the upside here: Ford is entering free agency, but the Chiefs could still have Justin Houston, Tanoh Kpassagnon, Breeland Speaks and Shaq Lawson as their pass rushers in 2019 and 2020. That’s dynamic young core who can learn from one of the few elite pass rushers in the business and the rookie deals help offset Houston’s mammoth contract. It also gives the team max flexibility if they ever wanted to move on from Houston’s contract as well.

The cost at this point for Lawson simply cannot be high if the team is giving public, direct quotes about his possibility of not making the team.

The bottom line

if it sounds “iffy” to trade for Lawson, it is. It should be. Otherwise he’d never be available and the Chiefs would never even be interested in paying through the mouth for him.

Next: Is Pat Mahomes the worst AFC West QB in 2018?

But here’s what’s on the table: a former first round pick who had the stats and the measurables who has suffered through injuries. He’s also lost the front office and coaching staff who believed in him. A change of scenery and a chance to blossom could be just what he needs—and the Chiefs could be all the better for it.

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