Gang Green Hopes High-priced Veteran Carl Lawson Can Generate Pass Rush

Head coach Robert Saleh spoke about the edge rusher's future with the Jets

Robert Saleh made it clear.

He views Carl Lawson as an important piece to the New York Jets' defense.

"Pass rushers, they don’t grow on trees," said Saleh while addressing reporters at the NFL Owners Meeting last week in Arizona. "Carl has a commodity, in this League, that's gold. So, he will be here as long as he can walk and play."

Lawson was unable to play during the 2021 campaign after tearing his Achilles in a preseason practice, but the veteran edge defender fought his way back to start all 17 games for the Jets in 2022.

Although no head coach's off-season comments should be viewed as gospel, it sure sounded like Saleh has a role carved out for Lawson in 2023.

"[If he] can rush the passer and affect it the way he does. He'll be here," said Saleh.

Some insiders drummed up speculation as to whether Lawson would be a "cut candidate" due to his reported $15.7 million salary cap hit this upcoming season.

Edge rusher Carl Lawson celebrates a defensive play against Jacksonville in 2022 / Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

The Jets signed Lawson, a free agent from the Cincinnati Bengals, to a three-year deal reportedly worth $45 million in 2021.

Although he may not have lived up to some critics' vision of a $15 million per year pass rusher, Lawson did plenty of good for Gang Green last season.

First, he works well with All-Pro tackle Quinnen Williams, helping to take some of the opposition's attention away from the big man in the middle.

Playing an estimated 58 percent of the Jets' defensive snaps in 2022, Lawson logged 7.0 sacks while being credited with 24 quarterback hits.

The 2022 sacks' total was the second-highest mark of Lawson's pro career. The former Auburn Tiger accounted for 8.5 quarterback takedowns as a rookie after the Cincinnati Bengals made Lawson a fourth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.

In 51 appearances (14 starts) for the Bengals, Lawson totaled 82 combined tackles and 20.0 sacks over the course of his rookie contract.

In addition to Lawson, the Jets will have pass rush specialist Bryce Huff to harass opposing quarterbacks. Gang Green re-signed the restricted free agent to a second-round tender that is worth $4.304 million.

Huff, who totaled 3.5 sacks and 10 quarterback hits in 14 appearances as a reserve, accounted for a 21.3 percent pressure rate in 2022 according to the NFL’s @NextGenStats.

In the Jets’ 20-17 win over AFC East champion Buffalo in Week 9, Huff made what was essentially a victory-clinching strip sack of Josh Allen. The late-game hit, which resulted in Allen’s throwing arm being bent awkwardly, pushed the Bills back into a fourth-and-forever situation while injuring their quarterback’s UCL.

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