DE Shaq Lawson
Last offseason, Shaq Lawson’s fifth-year option on his rookie deal was declined by the Bills, making him a free agent this upcoming offseason. Lawson has dealt with injuries during his time in the NFL and overall, underwhelmed as a first-round edge defender. Those guys are expected to sack the quarterback, and Lawson mostly has not.
That isn’t to say Lawson hasn’t had successes, though. He’s a stout run defender and is coming off of his best-overall year in 2019. Lawson had a career-high 6.5 sacks, which was the team’s second-highest this season (Jordan Phillips – 9.5), and he led Buffalo with 17 tackles for loss. Lawson credited the option decline for motivating him, and now the Bills might have to pay up to keep him anyway.
Regardless, Lawson is the final draft pick made by Whaley remaining on Buffalo’s roster in only three seasons since his departure.
LS Reid Ferguson
Reid Ferguson, the ol’ long-snapper of the Bills, was a former undrafted rookie free agent signee of Whaley in 2016. He didn’t make the Bills’ final roster that year, but did land on the practice squad. There he honed his skills and in the ensuing season in 2017, he took over a roster spot and full-time long-snapper duties. He beat out long-time Bills long snapper Garrison Sanborn. In January 2019, Ferguson received a three-year extension from the Bills’ current coaching staff and front office.