Manny

Lawson

The Packers are seeking a bookend linebacker opposite Clay Matthews, and Lawson has experience in the 3-4 as well as the 4-3. He would have to be platooned with a situational pass rusher in Green Bay. According to Scout.com, Lawson is also drawing interest from the Colts, Browns, Bengals and Raiders.

We suspected the original report identifying a handful of interested teams came straight from Lawson’s agent, so the denial is hardly a surprise. The Colts, Raiders, and Bengals were the other teams listed by Scout.com.

The Indy Star’s Phil Richards reports the Raiders, Packers, and Browns are “also involved.” The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported Wednesday that the Browns had no interest, so it sounds like Lawson’s agent is planting seeds in the non-Cleveland media. Lawson would fit nicely in Indianapolis’ hybrid 3-4 defense, playing the Jarret Johnson role as an edge setter versus the run.

Lawson was used almost exclusively in run support and coverage his first season in Cincinnati. “He moved to essentially a different position with us, playing outside in a 4-3 (scheme) after being in a 3-4, and he kept getting better as the year went on,” Zimmer said. “He was very good against the run and in coverage, and this year I think we can take better advantage of him as a pass rusher.” Lawson has 16.5 sacks in 80 career games.

The “league source” is presumably Lawson’s agent, though both the Colts and Packers have been connected to Lawson elsewhere. The Browns have denied interest in Lawson, while the Bengals are reportedly open to re-signing him. He hasn’t lined up any known visits.

Lawson has drawn interest from the Colts, Packers, Raiders, and Browns, but the Bengals haven’t given up hope. Lawson, 28 in July, is the best outside linebacker left on the open market. He started 15 games in Cincinnati last year.

Lawson was used almost exclusively on running downs during his first season in Cincinnati, making 52 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He played a relatively paltry 489 snaps, but managed to grade out as one of the better 4-3 linebackers in the league by Pro Football Focus. He hasn’t drawn any known interest since the start of free agency.

Coach Marvin Lewis said Sunday the Bengals hoped to re-sign Lawson. He has supposedly been drawing interest from a number of teams, but isn’t known to have made any visits since the beginning of free agency. He should officially re-up with Cincinnati sometime in the next 48 hours.

Lawson will retain his starting job on the strong side, with Thomas Howard at weak-side ‘backer and Rey Maualuga in the middle. Look for the Bengals to dangle Keith Rivers for trade, if they can. Lawson, 28 before the season, started every game last season but was often spelled by Brandon Johnson. Lawson will likely become more of a full-time player in his second year with Mike Zimmer.

Lawson drew light interest from the Packers, Colts, and Raiders, but not enough to be lured away from the Queen City. An early-down strong-side linebacker with little pass-rushing ability, Lawson is an asset in coverage and run support.