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Steelers Prospect Watch: Shaq Lawson

By Rich Donahue

Dec 31, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers defensive end Shaq Lawson (90) as he made a sack against the Oklahoma Sooners in the first quarter of the 2015 CFP Semifinal at the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Clemson Tigers defensive end Shaq Lawson (90) as he made a sack against the Oklahoma Sooners in the first quarter of the 2015 CFP Semifinal at the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Will the Pittsburgh Steelers target a pass rusher in the first round?

The NFL Draft is almost here with teams trying to finalize their big boards.  Like many other teams, the Steelers are still weighing the options for their pick at 25.  The team should be selecting a defensive player in the draft, but what is the biggest area need?

The consensus has the Steelers taking either a player from the secondary or a defensive lineman with their first round pick.  But as many drafts go, players fall as David DeCastro did a few years back.  With James Harrison debating retirement and Jarvis Jones a disappointment, do the Steelers select another pass rusher on Day 1?

I know it sounds crazy, but don’t worry, the only pass rusher the Steelers would take in the first round this year is Clemson’s Shaq Lawson.  The junior comes into the league as one of the most decorated defensive ends in college football.  This past season he earned first team All-ACC, first team All-American and was a finalist for the Bronco Nagurski Award.

In his 3 years at Death Valley, Lawson compiled 123 tackles, 45.5 tackles for loss and 20 sacks.  He led the nation in tackles for loss this season with 24.5 while racking up 12.5 sacks.  His was exposed to the national media with Clemson making a run at the National Championship, which caused his draft stock to soar.

Lawson has a powerful, compact frame that allows him to dominate in both the run and pass game.  His has one of the best motors of any pass rusher in this draft, never quitting on a play.  Quick hands along with a powerful upper body made Lawson almost unbloackable this season, even against fellow first round pick Ronnie Stanley.

The chance Lawson falls to the Steelers at 25 are pretty slim.  Teams drafting in the middle this year have been drooling over his pass rushing ability.

Next: steelers Mock Draft: Kenyan Drake

The Steelers will draft a pass rusher at some point.  The only way Lawson ends up in the Black & Gold however is if he plummets down the board on April 28.

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