Another of the Miami Dolphins free agent class of 2020 is out the door as the team shipped Shaq Lawson to the Houston Texans for ILB Benardrick McKinney. Lawson signed a 3-year $30-million deal last off-season but becomes the latest one-and-done signing under Chris Grier.
Shaq Lawson registered just 39 pressures in 571 snaps, the majority of which were pass-rush snaps. He added 17 tackles, 11 assisted-tackles, and a forced fumble. With a cap hit of $10-million it was considered a somewhat under-productive season for the veteran.
For his part Benardrick McKinney played in just four games for the Texans in 2020 after suffering a shoulder injury. However, in his previous four seasons he played a minimum of 900 snaps, with over 800 in the box in 3 of the four years.
BENARDRICK MCKINNEY FILLS A BIG HOLE ON DOLPHINS D
After the release of veteran linebacker Kyle Van Noy last week Benardrick McKinney fills a major need for the Dolphins in the ILB spot. Having played the majority of his career in the box, McKinney is expected to become an every down back for the Dolphins from the first week of the season.
McKinney had 80+ tackles in three of his four seasons prior to 2020, including a 100-tackle, 23-assist season in 2016.
Benardrick McKinney will count $7,187,500 against the cap this season, with Shaq Lawson also carrying a dead-cap of $2.666-m the deal is essentially a wash as far as the cap is concerned. McKinney has three-years $25.250-million remaining on his deal, but the Dolphins are able to move on from him at any-time with a maximum of $750,000 dead-cap in any season.
The deal also includes a swap of late round draft picks.
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