Dolphins trade Shaq Lawson to Texans for Benardrick McKinney

It’s not the Texans-Dolphins trade of quarterbacks fans are waiting for, but a swap of linebackers instead.

Houston is trading Benardrick McKinney for Miami’s Shaq Lawson, according to multiple reports, a deal which also includes an exchange of late-round picks.

Several reports have mentioned the Dolphins as one of the top potential landing spots for Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson in wake of his trade request, with Tua Tagovailoa part of the rumors. But thus far the Texans have shown no interest in trading their franchise quarterback.

McKinney, whom the Texans selected in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft, heads to Miami after playing just four games during the 2020 season due to a season-ending shoulder injury. The 2018 Pro Bowl linebacker is about to be in the fourth year of a $50 million deal he signed with the Texans in June 2018.

Lawson is getting shipped to Houston despite signing a three-year, $30 million contract with the Dolphins last March. He is coming off a 2020 season in which he recorded four sacks and came one tackle shy of his career-high 33 in 2017.