New York Jets sign free-agent EDGE Carl Lawson to 3-year deal (Report)

Joe Douglas and the New York Jets have signed former Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Carl Lawson to a three-year, $45 million deal.

First, Davis & Davis decided to make Florham Park, NJ their new professional home. Now, it’s Lawson time.

Joe Douglas and the New York Jets have agreed on a three-year, $45 million deal with free-agent edge rusher Carl Lawson, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

For the #Jets and Carl Lawson: 3 years, $45M with $30M guaranteed. Up to $47.4M. Huge deal. https://t.co/JbL2TsViT0

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2021

Lawson, 25, tallied 5.5 sacks and 32 quarterback hits in 16 games for the Cincinnati Bengals this past season. While the sack number doesn’t immediately jump off the page, Lawson’s production reaches far beyond the box score.

Lawson’s 76.3 Pro Football Focus grade from a year ago placed him tied for 14th at the edge defender position. His 84.9 pass-rush grade ranked him eighth overall in the same position category.

Many of Lawson’s reps didn’t turn into sacks, but the overall production was there for the majority of the season.

Carl Lawson was my #1 free agent EDGE as a pass-rusher based on a combination of 2 key pass rush stats

Corey Davis was my #1 free agent WR overall based on a combination of 5 key receiving stats#Jets pic.twitter.com/HlxujWmaHa

— Michael Nania (@Michael_Nania) March 16, 2021

Originally drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, Lawson immediately burst on the scene with 8.5 sacks as a rookie.

After an injury-riddled sophomore season that limited him to just seven games, the Auburn product tallied 10.5 sacks and 54 quarterback hits over the last two campaigns (28 games).

Lawson joins a defensive front with the likes of Quinnen Williams, Foley Fatukasi and John Franklin-Myers. While missing out on Joe Thuney and Corey Linsley certainly stung Jets fans initially, snagging wide receiver Corey Davis, linebacker Jarrad Davis and edge rusher Carl Lawson puts a pretty bow on the Jets’ Day 1 free-agency festivities.

Carl Lawson is the organization’s new hope to fill the gaping hole at edge John Abraham created when he was traded to the Atlanta Falcons over a decade and a half ago.