FRISCO, Texas – The Dallas Cowboys and two-time Pro Bowler, DeMarcus Lawrence, have finally reached a long-term contract. The power edge rusher has agreed to a five-year deal with more than $100 million, including $65 million guaranteed.
The club placed a franchise tag on 27-year-old Lawrence for the second consecutive year on March 4th. The Cowboys had until the July 15th deadline to negotiate a long-term contract with their premier pass rusher and both parties were able to come to a resolve.
‘The Tank’ has rightfully earned the money he will receive over the next five consecutive years. No.90 has tallied 197 combined tackles, 34.0 sacks, two passes defensed, nine forced fumbles, 67 quarterback hits, and an interception in 64 total games played for Dallas. He had a career-high 64-combined tackles in 2018 and his second-highest record of sacks with 10.5. D-Law was awarded to the NFL’s Top 100 List in 2018 at No.34 and was the NFC’s Week three Defensive Player of the Week in 2017. In addition, he was the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Month in September of 2017 and he had the second-highest number of recorded sacks in the league at 14.5 in 2017.
Lawrence is a defensive end that opposing quarterbacks fear and a player that opposing offenses have to plan scheme around, knowing where he is at all times on the field. He is a disruptive force and has an innate ability of beating offensive tackles at the line of scrimmage and hunting down quarterbacks.
Not only do the Cowboys finally have their most explosive d-line impact player locked up, they have also added depth to the interior and the opposite edge through free agency. Christian Covington and Kerry Hyder were both signed to one-year deals and will pair with the interior duo of Maliek Collins and Antwaun Woods. The team also acquired Robert Quinn from the Dolphins, who will replace Randy Gregory at right end, opposite the line from Lawrence. The Cowboys have solidified their 4-3 defensive front for 2019, and Lawrence will only elevate the performance of lineman around him.
Head Coach, Jason Garrett, remarked on the essential element Lawrence brings to the defense at the NFL’s annual meeting “everyone understands how good a player he’s been for us – he’s been an excellent player. We traded up for him in the draft for a reason. We felt like he could be an impactful pass rusher for us, and he’s been that. He’s had some adversity that he’s had to overcome in his career, and he’s handled that well. I think he’s grown on the field, I think he’s grown off the field. And again, he’s been impactful. He’s made a difference and become a leader on our team. We want DeMarcus Lawrence back on our football team. “
