Cowboys’ 2025 free agent profile: DE DeMarcus Lawrence

The Dallas Cowboys have an extended record of unrestricted free brokers who will formally hit the open market in a bit of over two months. Of these, six or seven have been important contributors in 2024, that means the Cowboys have some tough choices forward of them within the subsequent two months.

As we speak, we take a take a look at a Dallas impending free brokers coming off an injury-riddled season, defensive finish DeMarcus Lawrence.

Ken Blaze-Imagn Photos

2024 Common Season Stats: 4G, 9 Whole Pressures, 7 Defensive Stops, 4 QB Hurries, 3 Sacks, 2 QB Hits, 1 FFM

Yr Evaluation: DeMarcus Lawrence got here into the 2024 season using excessive. The 32-year-old veteran, tied with Zack Martin because the longest-tenured Cowboy on the roster, had a resurgence in his final two seasons. After accidents restricted him to taking part in in simply seven common season video games in 2021, Lawrence remained wholesome the next two seasons, taking part in in all 17 common season video games every year.

Lawrence was named to the Professional Bowl in 2022 and 2023, totaling 107 whole pressures, 82 QB hurries, and 11 sacks over these two years. In his later years, Lawrence’s finest asset has been his potential to play the run as an edge defender. 2023 was arguably one of the best season of his profession doing simply that, as Professional Soccer Focus graded the 11-year professional because the second-best run defender in soccer with a 92.2 grade.

Coming into a contract 12 months for the primary time since 2019, Lawrence in a fantastic place to have one other strong season and capitalize on the open market both with the Cowboys or one other crew. Sadly, Lawrence’s 2024 season was reduce very brief.

In Dallas’ Week 4 matchup towards the New York Giants, the 32-year-old veteran suffered a foot harm that will instantly land him on injured reserve. On the time of the harm, there was a perception Lawrence might return in probably six weeks. Nevertheless, that was not the case, as Lawrence remained on injured reserve for the remainder of the season, by no means seeing the sphere once more.

Free Company Outlook: Lawrence’s important foot harm actually fogs up his potential market in free company. If the veteran had hit the open market coming off his 2023 marketing campaign, there’s an actual likelihood he might have landed one thing like three -year deal price a major AAV. Now, coming off some of the impactful accidents of his profession at near age 33, it will likely be fascinating to see if groups are cautious of giving Lawrence a long-term provide.

Nonetheless, regardless of his age and harm historical past, groups will nonetheless be keen on Lawrence due to what he brings on the sphere and to the locker room. There’s no denying Lawrence was some of the important on and off-field leaders throughout his time as a Cowboy, and quite a few gamers and coaches have raved about his management potential.

When searching for a contract projection, two offers signed by veterans final offseason might function a superb benchmark. Final spring, then 33-year-old Denico Autry and 30-year-old Arik Armstead signed multi-year offers price no less than $10M yearly. Autry, the older of the 2, signed a two-year, $20M contract with the Houston Texans, whereas Armstead inked a three-year, $43.5M take care of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

At this level in his profession, Lawrence is definitely not the pass-rush menace Autry or Armstead have been after they entered free company. Nonetheless, he’s a comparable all-around participant and can probably be searching for a take care of an analogous AAV to the duo.

The 2025 free agent class has some expertise on the edge place, together with Josh Sweat, Chase Younger, and Dante Fowler. What Lawrence has going for him is many of the high free-agent expertise on the place are pure pass-rushers who battle towards the run. The 11-year veteran isn’t the pass-rusher we noticed again in 2017 or 2018, however he did document three sacks in 4 video games final 12 months and might nonetheless get after the quarterback to go together with excellent protection towards the run.

Cowboys Verdict: Lawrence has meant a lot to the Cowboys over his 11 years in Dallas. The veteran turned out to be top-of-the-line second-round picks within the historical past of the franchise. It could be robust if taking part in in simply 4 video games is how his time as a Cowboy ends, however at this level and time, there’s a actual chance that would be the case.

The Cowboys have numerous important free brokers of their very own they might want to retain in the event that they need to be aggressive subsequent season. Whereas Lawrence is near the highest of the record, defenders like Osa Odighizuwa and Jourdan Lewis are youthful and taking part in higher at this level of their careers, making them a much bigger precedence to retain.

Lawrence coming again to Dallas will probably come down to 1 factor: cash. If the 11-year veteran needs to safe a multi-year contract price a major AAV, there’s near zero likelihood he’ll get that from the Cowboys. However, if Lawrence decides he needs to remain house and can work with Dallas to get a deal carried out, there’s a path to a possible contract with loads of incentives that would work for either side.

Finally, it will in all probability be the final free agent contract Lawrence will sign up his NFL profession, making it extra probably he’ll search for a multi-year take care of a excessive AAV. As arduous as it might be, Dallas could also be staring down the barrel of shedding their two most tenured gamers (Lawrence, Zack Martin) for various causes this offseason.

Prediction: DeMarcus Lawrence indicators a two-year, $30M contract with the Detroit Lions