DeMarcus Lawrence‘s time with the Cowboys has come to an end. The four-time Pro Bowler has agreed to a deal with the Seahawks, his agency announced on Wednesday. 
This will be a three-year deal, Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report. The pact is worth up to $42MM and includes $18MM guaranteed. The Cowboys were interested in re-signing Lawrence, but he made it clear recently he was open to departing as a free agent.
Selected in the second round of the 2014 draft, Lawrence proved to be one of the Cowboys’ best additions of the current generation. After failing to start any games during his rookie campaign, he solidified himself as a mainstay along the edge. Over the past four years, Lawrence operated as a highly effective partner for Micah Parsons.
Over the course of his decorated Dallas tenure, Lawrence collected double-digit sacks on two occasions; his career high came in 2017 with 14.5. That season, he secured a second-team All-Pro nod. Playing on the franchise tag in 2019 and then a pair of long-term accords afterwards, the Boise State product delivered consistent production when healthy. Lawrence’s 61.5 sacks rank fourth in franchise history.
Earlier this offseason, the Cowboys made it known they were waiting on Lawrence to see what his intentions were regarding his future. The 32-year-old said his preference would have been to sign another Dallas deal, but this Seahawks payday comes as the Cowboys prepare to make Parsons one of the highest-paid defenders (and non-quarterbacks in general) in the NFL. They will look to younger, less expensive options to replace Lawrence.
The Boise State product played seven games in 2021. After logging a full slate of games the following two years, Lawrence was limited to only four contests. That missed time has clearly not hindered his market, though, given the terms of this Seahawks commitment. This deal will allow for a reunion between Lawrence and Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde. The former Cowboys defensive line coach helped convince Lawrence to head to Seattle, NFL Network’s Peter Schrager notes.
The Seahawks still have Uchenna Nwosu on the books, along with Boye Mafe and Derick Hall attached to their rookie contracts. Lawrence (who has remained effective against the run during his career in addition to solid but unspectacular pass rush production) will join that group for the foreseeable future. If he can remain healthy, he will likely prove to be an effective addition.
Solid depth piece for the Hawks D line.
Great player but he will be mostly injured. The guy balls out when he’s healthy.
$42 million and $18 million guaranteed, I hope he’s more than just a ‘depth piece’ for them. That’s a lot of cheddar.
Huh, interesting. Not unexpected for Seahawks to add an EDGE, or even for Lawrence to leave, but the attention turns to Dallas with Parsons still in limbo.
Lawrence was “supposed” to have left Dallas years ago, but injuries and lack of development from certain other players kept him around. The Cowboys still have a few players in the “good potential” category will now need to step up, but I expected them to retain Lawrence for at least one more year. Now the Seahawks have two veteran linemen signings that could be a good rotational or majority snap pressure weapon in Lawrence and Reed.
3 years 42 Mill…
Cowboys weren’t going there…
GL DLaw!!
I like this move for Seattle. Lawrence doesn’t have to be near peak form to justify this money or to form a powerful front with Williams and continued growth from Mafe, Murphy, and Hall.
3 years and 42 million? Lawrence has been great for the Cowboys, but he’s always injured and getting up there in age.
$18m is all that matters
I don’t know how he keeps getting paid. He’s been average for the last 5 plus years.
This move makes me think we will not even look at defensive linemen in the draft and focus on OL/WR/LB/QB early on.