College career
Lawson attended Utah State University, where he played for the Utah State Aggies football team from 2010 to 2013. As a true freshman in 2010, he appeared in nine games, making two starts for the Aggies. He made 12 total tackles, while breaking up one pass and intercepting one. In 2011, he started all 13 games, finishing fourth overall on the team in tackles with 73, while adding 10 pass break ups and one interception. In 2012, he started all 13 games, earning second-team All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) honors after recording 63 tackles, four for loss, two sacks and ten pass break-ups. As a senior in 2013, Lawson recorded 57 tackles, while breaking up 13 passes, and intercepting a career-high four interceptions, returning one 65 yards for a touchdown against Boise State. He earned first-team All-Mountain West Conference (MWC) honors following the regular season.[3]
Professional career
Pre-draft
Coming out of Utah State, NFL draft experts and scouts were conflicted on Lawson's draft projection. Some analysts and draft experts projected him to be drafted anywhere from the third or fourth round, while others projected him to be a seventh round pick or priority undrafted free agent. He received an invitation to the NFL Combine and completed all of the required combine and positional drills. On May 1, 2014, Lawson attended Utah State's pro day and opted to perform all of the combine drills, except for the bench press. He made progress on all of the drills except for the three-cone drill. He was ranked as the 17th best cornerback available in the draft by NFLDraftScout.com. Scouting reports said Lawson was a durable and productive player who has a muscular build, good man coverage skills, and the ability to read and react quickly. His biggest flaws were said to be his inconsistent play and mediocre press technique and ball skills.[4]
Detroit Lions
2014
The Detroit Lions selected Lawson in the fourth round (133rd overall) of the 2014 NFL draft.[6] On May 18, 2014, the Lions signed Lawson to a four-year, $2.52 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $300,584.[7]
During the training camp in his rookie season, Lawson competed for the starting cornerback job against Bill Bentley, Rashean Mathis, Aaron Hester, Jonte Green, and Cassius Vaughn. Head coach Jim Caldwell named Lawson the Lions' fourth cornerback to begin his rookie season, behind Darius Slay, Mathis, and Bentley.[8]
He made his professional regular season debut during the Lions' season-opening 35–14 victory over the New York Giants and finished with one solo tackle.[9] He became the second cornerback on the Lions' depth chart after Bentley tore his ACL and was placed on injured reserve. On September 14, 2014, Lawson dislocated multiple toes during a 24–7 loss to the Carolina Panthers. After receiving immediate surgery in North Carolina, he was placed on injured reserved, effectively ending his rookie season.[10][11]
2015
Lawson entered training camp competing with Crezdon Butler, Chris Owens, and Quandre Diggs for the third cornerback position. He was named the starting nickelback to begin the regular season.[12]
On November 1, 2015, Lawson earned the first start of his career and had a season-high seven combined tackles and a pass deflection during a 45–10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He started in place of Mathis who was unable to play after suffering from recurring symptoms from a concussion he received during a Week 7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He remained the starter for the remainder of the season after Mathis was diagnosed with a brain injury and placed on injured reserve three days later.[13] In Week 10, he made a season-high seven solo tackles and defended a pass as the Lions defeated the Green Bay Packers 18–16. He finished the season with 47 combined tackles (42 solo) and seven pass deflections in eight starts and 15 games.[9]
2016
Throughout training camp in 2016, he competed with Quandre Diggs, Crezdon Butler, and Alex Carter for the starting cornerback job.[14] Lawson was named the Lions' starting cornerback, along with Darius Slay, to start the season.
He started the Lions' season-opener and made four combined tackles in a 39–35 win against the Indianapolis Colts. On October 2, 2016, he recorded a season-high seven combined tackles during a 17–14 loss to the Chicago Bears. He finished 2016 with 57 tackles (46 solo) and nine passes defensed in 16 games and 16 starts. The Lions received a playoff berth after finishing the 2016 season with a 9–7 record. On January 7, 2017, Lawson started the first playoff game of his career and collected seven combined tackles as the Lions were defeated 6–26 to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Wildcard game.[9]
2017
Lawson received competition during the Lions' training camp in 2017. He was named one of the starting cornerbacks with Darius Slay after winning the job of free agent acquisition D. J. Hayden and rookie Teez Tabor.[15]
He started in the Lions' season-opening 35–23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals and recorded three solo tackles and one pass deflection. In Week 4, Lawson made four solo tackles and two pass deflections in a 14–7 win over the Vikings.[9] During Week 10 game against the Cleveland Browns, Lawson forced a fumble from Seth DeValve and returned it 44 yards for his first career touchdown.
2018
On March 13, 2018, Lawson signed a two-year, $9.2 million contract extension with the Lions.[16] He played in 15 games with 14 starts, recording 53 combined tackles, one sack, and five passes defensed.
On March 10, 2019, Lawson was released by the Lions.[17]
Oakland / Las Vegas Raiders
On March 19, 2019, Lawson signed with the Oakland Raiders on a one-year $3.05 million deal.[18] He was suspended the first four games of the 2019 season due to a failed drug test.[19] He was reinstated from suspension on September 30, and was activated on October 7.
On January 3, 2020, the NFL announced Lawson would be suspended for one game after using his helmet as a weapon in the Week 17 game against the Denver Broncos.[20] On January 23, 2020, he signed a one-year contract extension with the Raiders.[21] He was reinstated from suspension and activated on September 15, 2020.[22] Lawson was fined US$15,000 by the NFL on October 5, 2020, for attending a maskless charity event hosted by teammate Darren Waller during the COVID-19 pandemic in violation of the NFL's COVID-19 protocols for the 2020 season.[23] In Week 10 against the Broncos, Lawson forced a fumble on wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton and recovered the ball himself during the 37–12 win.[24]
Lawson re-signed with the Raiders on March 23, 2021.[25] He was suspended by the NFL for the first two games of the 2021 NFL season for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy on April 2, 2021.[26] The Raiders released him on September 20, 2021.
Jacksonville Jaguars
On September 22, 2021, Lawson signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.[27] He recorded his first career interception with the team against the Miami Dolphins on October 17, 2021.
