5 players who Cowboys need to be great in 2020

2. DeMarcus Lawrence, DE

If you are reading this and you are a fan of the Cowboys, pause and think about this question: Who was the team’s best edge rusher/defense end in 2019?

Without wasting too much time pondering, your likely answer would be Robert Quinn, right? Quinn had 22 quarterback hits and 11.5 sacks in 14 games. He cashed out on his bounce-back campaign, signing a $70 million ($30 mill guaranteed), five-year contract with the Chicago Bears.

The name that did not come to mind was DeMarcus Lawrence. This must change in 2020.

Prior to last season, Lawrence signed a five-year, $105 million deal with $65 million guaranteed. After signing, Lawrence received shoulder surgery after playing parts of two seasons with a torn labrum. Both sides were aware of the pending operation.

Labrum surgery is no small procedure, which is likely why Lawrence could not find his Pro Bowl form from the two seasons prior to 2019. Playing in 16 games, he had 16 quarterback hits and five sacks. Those five sacks were the lowest total since his 2016 season.

This year Lawrence will not enter training camp rehabbing from such a surgery. Meaning, he is primed for another double-digit sack season for the Cowboys. He needs to do so.

Last year, the Cowboys defense gathered just 39 total sacks. As mentioned before, Quinn had 11.5 of those and he is now gone. Lawrence needs to be the game wrecker he was in 2017 and 2018. If he can be that great again, the front seven for the Cowboys might be the best group in the NFL.

Health will do a lot for the team’s defense. With Lawrence back to full strength, and Leighton Vander Esch ready to go, Mike Nolan has the talent to do big things in Dallas this year.