Fansided

NFL free agency 2019: Best defensive linemen available

By Russell S. Baxter

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 05: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks is sacked by Demarcus Lawrence #90 of the Dallas Cowboys in the first half during the Wild Card Round at AT&T Stadium on January 05, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 05: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks is sacked by Demarcus Lawrence #90 of the Dallas Cowboys in the first half during the Wild Card Round at AT&T Stadium on January 05, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 12: Dallas Cowboys defensive end Demarcus Lawrence (90) during the NFC Divisional Football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Rams on January 12, 2019 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 12: Dallas Cowboys defensive end Demarcus Lawrence (90) during the NFC Divisional Football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Rams on January 12, 2019 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. DE Demarcus Lawrence (Dallas Cowboys)

Slowly but surely, the Dallas Cowboys have built themselves quite a defensive unit over the years. Once the albatross of the team, it’s been this side of the football that has been the bigger difference in the past two seasons.

In 2018, coordinator Rod Marinelli’s unit finished seventh in the league in fewest yards allowed and only four teams in the NFL allowed fewer yards on the ground. There might be hard to believe considering what happened to this team in the NFC Divisional Playoffs at Los Angeles as the Rams racked up 273 yards on the ground and running backs C.J. Anderson and Todd Gurley both topped the 100-yard mark.

This unit’s new strength is a linebacking corps that includes youngsters such as Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch. But arguably the team’s best defensive player for the Cowboys is Demarcus Lawrence. Like the Lions’ Ziggy Ansah, he played under the franchise tag in 2018. Unlike Ansah, he was available all season. He finished sixth on the team with 64 tackles, 10.5 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles. Nearly one-third of his stops (15) were for losses and he finished with 23 quarterback hits.

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Over the past two seasons, Lawrence has played in 16 regular-season contests and totaled 25 sacks and six forced fumbles. It’s somewhat hard to believe that he will actually be on the open market come March 13 — be it being re-signed by the Cowboys or the club once again using the franchise tag. But most of the other 31 clubs around the NFL could certainly wish and hope.

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