On Sunday afternoon, the Miami Dolphins traded LB Shaq Lawson to the Houston Texans in return for LB Benardrick McKinney. The deal will also include a pair of late round pick swaps, as first reported by Adam Schefter.
What Type of Player Will the Dolphins be Receiving?
At the age of 28, Benardrick McKinney has established himself as a Pro-Bowl caliber linebacker due to his impressive efforts over the last few seasons of his career. The 2015 second-round draft pick and 2019 Pro-Bowler tallied a combined 206 tackles in 2018 and 2019, proving to be one of the most dangerous threats on the defensive side of the football for the Texans. Unfortunately, 2020 ended with heart break for the former second round pick, as he came down with a shoulder injury that required a season-ending surgery.
McKinney will earn $24 million from the Dolphins within the next few years, as his contract locks him into Miami through the 2023 season.
The Future for Shaq Lawson
After playing with the Buffalo Bills for the entirety of his early career, Shaq Lawson made the move to the Sunshine State before the 2020 season. In his single season with the Dolphins, Lawson tallied a combined 33 tackles and 4 sacks. Many critics still believe the former first rounder has not played up to the best of his abilities, which proved to be a deciding factor in the Dolphins’ decision. Lawson is on his way to a team that needs help on all sides of the football, meaning he will have to step his game up.
Expect Lawson to earn upwards of $8 million during his 2021 campaign with the Texans. The 26-year-old linebacker will play in the Lone-Star-State until 2022, where he will receive the ability to test the waters of free agency.