DAVIE, Fla. – The Dolphins and Texans have agreed to an exchange of starting linebackers, with Miami sending Shaq Lawson to Houston and receiving Benardrick McKinney in return, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
In the deal, the teams also exchange choices in the late round. Miami sends out a sixth round for 2021 and will receive a seventh round for 2021, sources told ESPN.
The trade cannot be made official until the start of the competition year, which begins Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET.
The Dolphins have long admired McKinney, who should slide in as a starting linebacker opposite Jerome Baker and fill a void left by the release of Kyle Van Noy and the impending departure of Kamu Grugier-Hill and Elandon Roberts. The Texans get an upgrade at edge rusher by taking over Lawson, who last season had four sacks while playing outside linebacker and is a tough, reliable run defender.
The move comes after Houston signed linebacker Christian Kirksey on a one-year deal worth up to $ 4.5 million. McKinney, who signed a $ 50 million five-year contract in 2018, ran out of guaranteed money for the last three years of his contract. He has to pay $ 7.2 million by 2021.
A 2018 Pro Bowler, McKinney played in just four games in 2020 before undergoing shoulder surgery.
In 2020, Houston signed linebacker Zach Cunningham to a $ 58 million four-year deal. Before the Texans traded McKinney, the pair together would represent more than 10.5% of the Texans’ total cap by 2021.
Lawson signed a $ 30 million three-year deal with Miami last March, and he is now the second major multi-year free agent to part ways with the Dolphins after one season and join Van Noy. Lawson, expected to make $ 8.5 million by 2021, didn’t quite deliver the pass rush production the team was hoping for in its one year in Miami.
The dolphins fill their hole on the inside of the linebacker while creating a larger hole on the edge of the rusher, leaving only Emmanuel Ogbah and Andrew Van Ginkel as key contributors. This could be a sign of Miami’s expectation to be active in that position in the free service.
ESPN’s Sarah Barshop contributed to this report.