By Nick Wojton / Billswire.usatoday.com
The Buffalo Bills apparently have made up their mind in regard to defensive end Shaq Lawson.
Entering his fourth year in the NFL, the Bills had to decide by Friday if they were going to pick up the fifth-year option on his contract as a former first-round pick.
According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Bills have decided not to pick up that option on his contract.
Garafolo tweeted, “he #Bills have decided to not pick up the fifth-year option for DE Shaq Lawson, source says. So he’s slated to be a free agent after this upcoming season.”
Bills general manager Brandon Beane said earlier this week that he planned to speak to head coach Sean McDermott this week to discuss what to do in regard to Lawson’s contract.
“We’ll talk through it, and we’ll make the best decision for us and we’ll take it from there,” Beane said.
However, Beane also said even if the team doesn’t pick up his fifth-year option, it might not be over for the defensive end in western New York. But the team will explore any and all options as well.
“That’s what you do, you talk about, what is the number for the option number? What is the franchise [tag] number roughly look like it’s going to be next year based off what’s been signed this year? And then, what else is going to be a free agent out there?” Beane said. “We maybe even take a look… we won’t have a great look, but we’ll take a quick a look on what’s coming out in the draft potentially next year.”
Lawson is an outlier on the Bills’ roster. The 24-year-old defender is the final player drafted by the team’s former front office led by Doug Whaley remaining on the roster. All the others have left the team’s roster in one way or another.
The option would’ve come in at approximately $10 million for the 2020 season. Lawson will be on the team next season regardless and the two sides can still work out a separate extension.
Over the past three seasons, Lawson has racked up 76 tackles but only 10 sacks in 35 games played. In a passing league and as a former first rounder, some want more out of Lawson in that sack total. However, against the run, Lawson’s a strong defender.