Bills select Clemson’s Shaq Lawson with 19th pick in NFL draft

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills addressed a significant pass-rushing need by selectingClemson defensive end Shaq Lawson with the 19th pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night.

Listed at 6-foot-3 and 269 pounds, Lawson was a consensus All-American last season in which he had 25 1/2 tackles for a loss and 12 1/2 sacks. Though relatively undersized for a defensive end, Lawson is regarded as a solid fit in an outside linebacker's role because of his athleticism and versatility.

An NFL draft scouting report referred to Lawson as being "built like a tank."

Lawson fills an immediate need on a defensive front seven that lost Mario Williams, who was cut last month.

The Bills are scheduled to have seven more selections through the next five rounds, starting with No. 49 on Friday.

He becomes the latest Clemson player to join the Bills after Buffalo selected receiver Sammy Watkins in the first round of the 2014 draft.

Coach Rex Ryan also has a connection to the Tigers, as his son Seth is entering his third season atClemson.

Overall, Lawson had 46 1/2 tackles for a loss and 20 sacks in 41 games, including 16 starts, split over three seasons at Clemson.

This story was originally published April 28, 2016 at 10:27 PM with the headline "Bills select Clemson’s Shaq Lawson with 19th pick in NFL draft."