Dallas Cowboys: 3 Players to let walk, cut and re-sign in 2019

Should be re-signed: DeMarcus Lawrence, Defensive End

This is about as big of a no-brainer as there is. Last season, DeMarcus Lawrence broke out as he tied a career-high 58 tackles while also setting a new best personal record of 14.5 sacks. This was a huge contrast to the prior season, which was one the former second-round pick would like to forget.

Lawrence was suspended the first four games of the 2016 season and then struggled with back problems when he did return. After recording eight sacks in 2015, Lawrence had just one that year and it was looking bleak along the Dallas defensive line.

Then the former Boise State product got it all figured out —‚ and was also the healthiest he had ever been in his career, which surely helped. As for Dallas, they were smart as well in how they handled Tank. With his breakout season coming in a contract year, Dallas elected to use the franchise tag and make D-Law prove it wasn’t a one-year thing.

It wasn’t. Lawrence has 9.5 sacks in 14 games to again lead the team, but that hardly tells the story of his worth. Lawrence has become impossible to block and is graded as the No. 5 defensive end in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus.

Lawrence won’t be cheap, but Dallas needs to re-sign him in 2019. Their entire defense relies on his ability to get after the quarterback and letting him leave would be a mistake.

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