Best NFL free agents in 2019

PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 14: Le'Veon Bell #26 of the Pittsburgh Steelers catches a touchdown pass against Telvin Smith #50 of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second half of the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Heinz Field on January 14, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – DECEMBER 10: Dallas Cowboys defensive end Demarcus Lawrence (90) during the National Football League game between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys on December 10, 2017, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

5. DeMarcus Lawrence – Dallas Cowboys

Lawrence burst onto the scene for the Cowboys defense last season and led the group with 14.5 sacks. Predictably, that was good enough to earn him a franchise tag. His play this season will go a long way towards determining whether or not Dallas is willing to offer him a mega deal this summer.

The trouble with Lawrence is trying to determine whether or not he is going to turn out to be a one season wonder. He did have eight sacks back in 2015, but he followed that up by getting to the quarterback exactly once in his 2016 campaign. The Cowboys are right to be worried about his level of play if he earns a big contract.

When he’s on the field playing motivated football he can be a terror off the edge. He’s a little undersized to serve as a full-time defensive end but he can function as an outside linebacker for certain teams. In fact, the best fit for Lawrence might be a move to a 3-4 defense who will leave him in space more often than not.

Even if you only view him as a specialist of sorts, his ability to rush the passer is truly special. Not every team will feel comfortable offering him a big deal this summer, but if the Cowboys hesitate he’ll have more than a few big offers. This represents one of the more interesting potential cases of free agency in 2019.

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