With the 19th overall selection in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Bills selected Clemson defensive end Shaq Lawson.
"Very few times that you can go in the draft and have a very big need and that guy there, standing out like a sore thumb, is the guy you want and the guy that fills that need," General Manager Doug Whaley said. "So we’re extremely excited to have Shaq Lawson."
"They were like 'Shaq you ready to be a Buffalo Bill and I said 'Yep, I've been waiting on it'," Lawson told reporters in Chicago.
Lawson will be a day one starter opposite of Jerry Hughes. He'll look to help bolster a defense that under first year Head Coach Rex Ryan vastly underachieved ranking 19th overall in 2015.
The 21-year-old was a star a season ago, setting a new career high with 12.5 sacks and led the country with 25.5 tackles for loss to lead the Tigers to an undefeated regular season, ACC title and trip to the national championship game.
Clemson lost to Alabama in the College Football Championship Game 45-40.
Lawson, who was a first time starter in 2015, is reported need shoulder surgery and will miss 4-6 months.
New Bills' DE Shaq Lawson will need shoulder surgery that sidelines him 4-6 months at some point, probably after next season, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 29, 2016
