Former Bengal Carl Lawson is on the prowl in Florham Park, as he’s making his unofficial New York Jets debut through OTAs on One Jets Drive.
The New York Jets‘ quarterback room probably felt the heat go up a little bit while convening in Florham Park this week, and it had nothing to do with the approaching summer weather.
Carl Lawson has arrived at #Jets OTAs 👀 pic.twitter.com/wdqCrBXZmA
— Optimistic Jets (@OptimisticJets) June 7, 2021
Free agency newcomer Carl Lawson officially donned green for the first time this week, as organized team activities resume on One Jets Drive in Florham Park. Lawson, 25, inked a three-year, $45 million deal with the Jets after spending the last four seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Clad in a No. 58 jersey previously worn by James Farrior, Lawson was a central focus of the Jets’ social media channels’ coverage of Monday’s proceedings. Jets fans made their appreciation of Lawson’s arrival well-known throughout the afternoon.
https://twitter.com/jetupnationcrew/status/1402021562920865793
Carl Lawson is a big man smh
— Marv 🇭🇹 (@TiAyiti) June 7, 2021
Carl Lawson sighting! Lawson has been absent for OTAs, but had been sending training staff videos of his at-home workouts. That get-off though… https://t.co/PqvNnFqdxo
— NYJetsStan (@jets_stan) June 7, 2021
Lawson opted out of the earlier stages of offseason workouts but remained in contact with the Jets’ coaching staff, sending in videos of his personal workouts from abroad.
While some fans have been off-put by Lawson’s lack of sacks (earning 11.5 over the last three seasons after putting up 8.5 in his rookie campaign), the importance of the pressure he puts on opposing backfields and his knowledge of the 4-3 defense cannot be understated.
Lawson was one of two defenders (the other being Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams) to earn over 30 percent of his team’s pressures in 2020. His 64 total pressures also ranked sixth in the league, a stat that could become vital with a yearly pair of matchups with Josh Allen and Tua Tagovailoa looming.
For more on Lawson and why sacks shouldn’t be the ultimate judgment behind modern edge rushers, check out Michael Nania’s analysis here.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
