No one has higher expectations for Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence than DeMarcus Lawrence. Flush with a new five-year, $105 million contract, he wants to be worth every penny. His goal is nothing less than to be the best pass-rusher to ever suit up in the NFL.
“My goal is to be the best that’s ever played this game,” Lawrence said Saturday at SportsCon 2019 in Dallas. “For sure, I want to beat that sack record, make it my own … I’m going to just wait until I get to the season and then worry about sacks.”
DeMarcus Lawrence pursuing NFL sack record, addresses surgery rehab | From @CMill0312 https://t.co/BvuD37N4f5
— TheCowboysWire (@TheCowboysWire) July 14, 2019
The record he’s talking about is Michael Strahan’s single season mark of 22.5, set in 2001. He has some work to do. While he’s worth the money that Dallas is paying him, he’s never got within sniffing distance of 20 sacks in his five years in the NFL. In 2017, Lawrence recorded a career-high 14.5. Last year he had 10.5 sacks. Those numbers got him paid. They’re not getting his jersey hung in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Lawrence finished last season tied for 16th in the league in sacks. Aaron Donald, of the Los Angeles Rams, led the NFL with 20.5 sacks. J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans finished with 16 and in second place.
Every 2018 DeMarcus Lawrence sack. Video credit goes to My Cowboys Family (@MyCowboysFamily) pic.twitter.com/gdyyF4q499
— ✭ 🤠 Cowboy X Factor #2023WorldSeriesChampions🥳 (@CowboyXFactor) July 12, 2019
The star defensive end has to recover from offseason shoulder surgery before he can try to enact his plans of sack dominance.
“The mobility and my strength is coming back naturally,” Lawrence said. “I’m working every day. I’m able to do things. I’m just still limited. Just taking my time. I’ve got time still… My main thing is to be ready by Week One.”
If he wants some motivation after getting a huge payday, he needs to look no further than Donald. After cashing in with what, at the time, was the largest non-quarterback contract in NFL history, Donald blasted through the record books with an all-around career year, showing the Rams didn’t waste a dime on his services.
Dallas will be thrilled to get anything close to that from Lawrence.
