After losing edge rushers Carl Lawson and Vinny Curry for the entire season in August, New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas attempted to keep the EDGE unit afloat by trading for Houston Texans edge rusher Shaq Lawson. Douglas sent a 2022 sixth-round pick to Houston for the services of the lesser-talented Lawson.
It was a trade that made a lot of sense. The edge rushers are extremely important in New York’s attacking 4-3 defense. Head coach Robert Saleh wanted to build a defensive front that could create pressure without the blitz, taking pressure off of the team’s young cornerbacks and linebackers in coverage.