The Bengals Benefit from a Huge Blunder coming from the New York Jets’ Free Agent.
As defensive end Carl Lawson and the New York Jets part ways, it seems evident that the Cincinnati Bengals made a prudent decision to allow their former fourth-round draft pick to enter free agency. The outcome strongly suggests that the Bengals made a wise choice while the Jets made a less favorable one.
As Carl Lawson reached the void year in the free-agent contract he inked in 2021, there arises contemplation about what might have transpired. Many assessments indicate that Lawson’s time as a Jet was disappointing, especially when compared to the success of his replacement in Cincinnati.
Having signed a three-year, $45 million deal, Lawson displayed a high level of performance during his initial training camp as a Jet until a preseason Achilles injury sidelined him for the entirety of the 2021 season. Despite this setback, Lawson rebounded to start all 17 games in 2022, amassing a total of 7.0 sacks.
However, Lawson faced challenges entering the 2023 season, dealing with a preseason back injury that led to a decline in the Jets’ depth chart and rendered him irrelevant. Playing only six games and making five tackles, the 28-year-old became a healthy scratch on multiple occasions.
Contrastingly, rather than re-signing Lawson in 2021, the Bengals opted to invest similar money in free agent defensive end Trey Hendrickson, luring him away from the New Orleans Saints. While Lawson recorded 5.5 sacks in his contract year with the Bengals, Hendrickson, with a four-year, $60 million contract, had previously achieved 13.5 sacks over 15 games for the Saints.
Since joining the Bengals, Hendrickson has earned three consecutive Pro Bowl selections, accumulating an impressive 39.5 sacks over three seasons. His outstanding performance in 2023, with 17.5 sacks, significantly surpassed the Jets’ team leader Bryce Huff, who managed 10 sacks.
Despite acknowledging some bad luck in Lawson’s case, it becomes apparent that the Jets paid a substantial $6.43 million per sack over his forgettable tenure. In stark contrast, the Bengals’ investment in Hendrickson appears to have yielded a much more favorable return.
