BREAKING NEWS: Dolphins trade Shaq Lawson to Texans for Benardrick McKinney

So does that shore up ILB?

Well saves a little money and get Inside help. I wonder where they go now. And i wonder what the pick swap was.

"Mafioso wrote:

Dolphins swap a starting OLB in Shaq Lawson for ILB in Benardrick McKinney.

McKinney slides in nicely as starting ILB opposite Jerome Baker, and Dolphins save a little $. McKinney set to make $7.2M. Moving on from Shaq Lawson, who had 4 sacks in 2020 & will make $8.5M this year. https://t.co/1D38LJ5y78

— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) March 14, 2021

Well saves a little money and get Inside help. I wonder where they go now. And i wonder what the pick swap was.

our 6th for their 7th.

This sounds like one of those trades that was a byproduct of two teams talking about another move, doesn't mean the other trade will happen, just you see this happen a lot.

"Ronnie Bass wrote:

This sounds like one of those trades that was a byproduct of two teams talking about another move, doesn't mean the other trade will happen, just you see this happen a lot.

hopefully not something like "Can I at least get McKinney than ?"

A real linebacker finally.

Definitely a high volume tackler.

Interesting move. IIRC we were reportedly interested in him back when we were talking about Tunsil and then again with Clowney.

Curious to see how we fit him in and how that may shift our defensive draft needs. Lawson was something of a disappointment - not terrible but not what we hoped for either. Grier and Flores certainly showing they aren't afraid to make moves.

"texanphinatic wrote:

Interesting move. IIRC we were reportedly interested in him back when we were talking about Tunsil and then again with Clowney.

Curious to see how we fit him in and how that may shift our defensive draft needs. Lawson was something of a disappointment - not terrible but not what we hoped for either. Grier and Flores certainly showing they aren't afraid to make moves.

I imagine that a couple of DEs from The U are going to get a long look.

"Galant wrote:

Houston gave Benardrick McKinney permission to seek a trade over the last few days. The Dolphins and Titans showed the most interest. It came together this AM. https://t.co/kE9qs8lI8D

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 14, 2021

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Somewhere, out there, Deshaun Watson is tossing his laptop out the window.

Don’t know much about him. Lawson wasn’t super productive last year and sounds like this move will give us some cap space to do some damage this off-season.

He seems like a high IQ Football player, lets see what he can do.

Guys, this is a fantastic move. I have been so sick and tired of watching teams running up the middle against us and dominate. For years, I have said that if I coached against the Dolphins, I would run up the middle until they could stop me. We simply have not had an interior LB that could stop the run. With Wilkins and Davis, and don't forget about Sieler, who really impressed me, I think that this really gives us an opportunity to fix this problem that has plagued us since the Philbin years.

This also shows how Grier is really coming into his own. Just don't think about the guy here. I love the contract. McKinney is set to make $7 mil this season and $10 mil the next two seasons. But here is the kicker - after next season, McKinney has just $750,000 guaranteed on his contract. Essentially, if he is not worth the money we are paying him, we can walk away free and clear.

"tirty8 wrote:

Guys, this is a fantastic move. I have been so sick and tired of watching teams running up the middle against us and dominate. For years, I have said that if I coached against the Dolphins, I would run up the middle until they could stop me. We simply have not had an interior LB that could stop the run. With Wilkins and Davis, and don't forget about Sieler, who really impressed me, I think that this really gives us an opportunity to fix this problem that has plagued us since the Philbin years.

This also shows how Grier is really coming into his own. Just don't think about the guy here. I love the contract. McKinney is set to make $7 mil this season and $10 mil the next two seasons. But here is the kicker - after next season, McKinney has just $750,000 guaranteed on his contract. Essentially, if he is not worth the money we are paying him, we can walk away free and clear.

Here's the other side of that though- he played 4 games last year and was injured the rest of the season. Yes, he's a former pro-bowler and apparently a solid leader, and a guy that we've inquired about several times over the past few seasons. He also got permission from Houston and initiated this trade on his own, so he wants to be in Miami. All great signs that he's coming to play hard. Plus it will be a "prove it" season for him as well for extra motivation.

But he did miss 12 games last year and may not be the player he once was...that always makes me a little nervous. No harm in trading a backup for a potential Pro Bowl starter though- I really like the move.

Great move. Always admired McKinney.

ILB was a big need and there weren’t many interesting names coming available in free agency.

Lawson was solid and better holding the end against the run than I expected.... but is much more easily replaced considering a ton of EDGE guys are available in free agency

"KeyFin wrote:

Here's the other side of that though- he played 4 games last year and was injured the rest of the season. Yes, he's a former pro-bowler and apparently a solid leader, and a guy that we've inquired about several times over the past few seasons. He also got permission from Houston and initiated this trade on his own, so he wants to be in Miami. All great signs that he's coming to play hard. Plus it will be a "prove it" season for him as well for extra motivation.

But he did miss 12 games last year and may not be the player he once was...that always makes me a little nervous. No harm in trading a backup for a potential Pro Bowl starter though- I really like the move.

I feel like perhaps this was as much - or more - about us wanting to move Lawson than acquire McKinney. He was just a dude they felt gave good potential value rather than just dumping Lawson as a free agent.

"KeyFin wrote:

Here's the other side of that though- he played 4 games last year and was injured the rest of the season. Yes, he's a former pro-bowler and apparently a solid leader, and a guy that we've inquired about several times over the past few seasons. He also got permission from Houston and initiated this trade on his own, so he wants to be in Miami. All great signs that he's coming to play hard. Plus it will be a "prove it" season for him as well for extra motivation.

But he did miss 12 games last year and may not be the player he once was...that always makes me a little nervous. No harm in trading a backup for a potential Pro Bowl starter though- I really like the move.

It is just not about McKinney. It is about that contract. If the injuries come back, he is probably gone next season. If he comes in and plays well, I have zero problems paying him his salary.

"tirty8 wrote:

It is just not about McKinney. It is about that contract. If the injuries come back, he is probably gone next season. If he comes in and plays well, I have zero problems paying him his salary.

Hey, you're preaching to the choir here. For me, the MLB is the 2nd most important position on the field behind the QB. I really hope he's the guy.

For those who know McKinney, how does he compare to Van Noy? I know they're two different players with different skill sets...just curious if you guys would see this as a lateral move or an upgrade.

"KeyFin wrote:

Hey, you're preaching to the choir here. For me, the MLB is the 2nd most important position on the field behind the QB. I really hope he's the guy.

For those who know McKinney, how does he compare to Van Noy? I know they're two different players with different skill sets...just curious if you guys would see this as a lateral move or an upgrade.

I really liked KVN. It felt like that dude was perpetually around the ball.

From PFT:
Houston will send linebacker Benardrick McKinney to Miami for linebacker Shaq Lawson, according to multiple reports. A swap of late-round picks is also involved. McKinney was the Texans’ second-round pick in the 2015 NFL draft. He was a Pro Bowler in 2018. Last year he was limited to just four games with a shoulder injury. He has three more years on his contract and will make a base salary of $7 million this year.

Lawson was a first-round pick of the Bills in 2016 and signed with the Dolphins last year. In his one year in Miami, he played in 14 games, with seven starts. He has two more years on his contract and will make a base salary of $8.4 million this year.

Man, if he can be healthy, this can be a great move. For a long time, we have needed that smart, thumper in the middle. Lawson was good, but not great and however, we really need that guy in the middle to help stop the run, etc.