In his fourth 2016 NFL mock draft, published at ESPN.com earlier this week, Mel Kiper selected Clemson defensive end Shaq Lawson for the Buffalo Bills.
"Given his productivity and well-rounded game, Lawson would be a good get in this range," Kiper wrote of the pick. "The Ryan brothers have to get the defense turned around or they could both be elsewhere in 2017, and Lawson is the kind of player who can get on the field early and help."
Lawson, a junior entrant in the 2016 NFL Draft, has been one of the fastest-rising players in this year's pre-draft process thanks in part to a strong athletic showing at the Combine in February. There, he ran a 4.7-second 40-yard dash at 269 pounds, registered a 10'0" broad jump, and showed well in linebacker drills, adding versatility to his CV.
After becoming the top dog in Clemson's pass rush in his junior season, Lawson responded well, posting a career-high 12.5 sacks in Clemson's championship run last season. He finished his three-year career with the Tigers with 123 tackles, 45.5 tackles for loss, and 23 sacks.
In Buffalo, Lawson would project as the starting-lineup successor to Mario Williams at rush end, where he'd provide some pass-rushing punch and hopefully not complain so loudly when the Ryans ask him to drop into coverage. The Ryans are well-connected with the Clemson program, and Lawson has excellent credentials as a prospect, so if he's available at No. 19, this would seem like a natural fit.