Report: Texans trading Shaq Lawson to Jets
The Houston Texans are trading defensive end Shaq Lawson to the New York Jets for a sixth-round pick, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
The Jets were looking for pass-rush help after losing star defensive end Carl Lawson for the season due to an Achilles injury. New York also won't have linebacker Jarrad Davis during at least the first month of the regular season after he suffered an ankle injury.
Lawson landed in Houston earlier this offseason in a trade from the Miami Dolphins, who received linebacker Benardrick McKinney and a seventh-round pick as part of the deal.
The 27-year-old racked up 32 tackles, four sacks, and one forced fumble through 14 appearances during his one-season stint with the Dolphins last year.
He was expected to be a backup for Houston behind Whitney Mercilus and Jordan Jenkins. Lawson has a base salary of just $1.4 million this year, and his contract doesn't have any guaranteed money in 2022, according to Spotrac.
The Jets will be Lawson's third different AFC East team. The 2016 first-round pick began his career on the Buffalo Bills, racking up 16.5 sacks through his first four NFL seasons.
New York addressed its pass rush after amassing just 31 sacks last season. Defensive lineman Quinnen Williams was the only Jets player to top four sacks in 2020.