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Report: Texans, Shaq Lawson Agree to Restructured Contract to Free Cap Space
April 2, 2021
Two weeks after being traded to the Houston Texans, Shaq Lawson has reportedly agreed to restructure his contract with the team.
Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Texans will save more than $5.2 million against the 2021 salary cap by converting some of Lawson's salary and a workout bonus and adding two voidable years to his contract.
Pelissero noted Lawson is still owed $8 million fully guaranteed in 2021 and $9 million fully guaranteed in 2022.
The Texans acquired Lawson and a 2021 sixth-round pick from the Miami Dolphins last month for Benardrick McKinney and a 2021 seventh-round pick.
Miami gave Lawson a three-year, $30 million contract with $20.8 million guaranteed in March 2020.
His base salary in 2021 will be just $1.4 million with a $3.25 million cap hit. The Texans now have $17.5 million in cap space available, per Spotrac.
Lawson, a first-round pick by the Buffalo Bills in 2016, has been used primarily in pass-rushing situations. The 26-year-old recorded a career-high 6.5 sacks in 2019.
In his lone season with the Dolphins, he had 32 combined tackles, 18 quarterback hits and four sacks in 14 games.
Houston finished 18th in the NFL last year with 34 sacks. J.J. Watt, who signed with the Arizona Cardinals as a free agent after being released in February, led the team with five sacks in 2020.