Todd McShay mock: Bears take ‘junkyard dog’ Shaq Lawson

The Bears will draft Clemson pass rusher Shaq Lawson with the No. 11 overall pick next month, according to ESPN analyst Todd McShay’s latest mock draft.

Lawson had 12 ½ sacks and 25 1/2 tackles for loss in his only season as a full-time starter last season, helping to lead the Tigers to an undefeated regular season and national title game defeat.

Lawson played with his hand in the ground as a defensive end and standing up as an outside pass rusher, and is considered a good fit in either a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme.

McShay said he also considered assigning Georgia outside linebacker Leonard Floyd to the Bears, but placed him at No. 18 to the Colts instead.

“They’re very different players,” McShay said in a Wednesday teleconference. “Lawson is going to be the more consistent-effort guy. He’s going to bring a lot of fire and emotion. He’s got power, he’s disciplined and he has good closing burst. He’s a natural pass-rusher in terms of his instincts, but he’s not a speedster, even though he ran well (at the NFL Scouting Combine), and he’s not great in terms of change in direction. …

“But I think he’s a junkyard dog, man. I just love the way he plays. And so when I look at the Bears and the toughness they want to have, I’d rather personally — and I’m not speaking for them — bet on the guy that’s going to go out and give me everything every single snap. …”

Follow me on Twitter @patrickfinley

Email: pfinley@suntimes.com