Cincinnati Bengals: Predicting how rookies will perform
By Kenn Korb
Carl Lawson, DE
Expected Role: Hybrid Pass-Rusher/Coverage Linebacker
2017 Statistical Prediction: 12 games (0 starts), 27 tackles, 5 tackles for loss (3.0 sacks), 1 forced fumble, 1 interception
When he was drafted, it seemed like this was essentially a repeat of the plan that led off Cincinnati’s 2015 draft. In that draft, the team picked offensive tackles Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher with their first two selections, with the plan obviously being to have them be the eventual bookends for years to come. It’s been a slow process on that front, but though neither has exactly impressed two years into their careers, they’re getting their shot to do exactly what was planned.
When Lawson was Cincinnati’s pick right after Willis in this draft, I for one thought it may be along those same lines of planning. Get two young players, give them a year or so to acclimate slowly, then have them replace their aging counterparts. Based on the summer, that seems a somewhat erroneous of assumption, however. While both will hopefully become quality contributors in the near future, at least one of them could do so by not exclusively working as a defensive end.
Lawson seemed to only get talk as a 4-3 defensive end/3-4 pass rusher in the draft from what I recall. Across wherever Cincinnati’s roster was listed during the summer though, he was constantly seeing designations; in a large portion of them, rather than a defensive end/lineman listing, he was being labelled as an linebacker.
If all he was going to do is line up on the defensive front, that made little sense. Apparently, the plans were much bigger for him. Instead of just playing as a hand-on-the-ground edge rusher, Lawson is going to be used as a standing linebacker as well. Officially, he joined fellow rookies Jordan Evans and Hardy Nickerson (more on each of them later) as the linebacker depth.
The role entailed for him seems to be unique on this roster; with it, there could be significantly more chances for him to see the field early in his career. With the sudden elevation of depth in the Cincinnati front seven it likely won’t be too much, but a few hundred snaps in a specialized role shouldn’t be out of the question as long as he stays healthy.