The Dallas Cowboys had to say goodbye to yet another defensive stalwart in the early stages of free agency. Just a few days after Jourdan Lewis agreed to a contract that would see him join the Jacksonville Jaguars, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence called time on his tenure in Dallas.
Lawrence signed a three-year, $42 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks despite the fact he missed most of the last two seasons with injuries and is on the wrong side of 30 years old. The Seahawks still wanted his veteran juice off the edge, which deprived Dallas of someone who has been a playmaker for a decade.
Lawrence’s void will not be replaced easily, as the Cowboys are thin on quality defensive linemen at the moment and the Boise State product can still get to the quarterback. These three players need to be at the front of Jerry Jones’ mind as he tries to fill the void.
3 DeMarcus Lawrence replacements Cowboys must be all-in on
3. DeMarcus Walker, Chicago Bears
Walker is a well-traveled veteran who has bounced around from team to team as a reliable edge-setting defensive lineman with a bit more pass rush upside than most his size. He’ll never match Lawrence as a pass rusher, but he could be a nice depth piece up front that moves around the line a bit.
Walker, who spent the last two years as a firmly entrenched starter alongside Matt Eberflus in Chicago, could be worth a flier due to his consistency. After pilfering Jack Sanborn away from the Bears, Eberflus may need one more strong defensive linemen who fits what he wants to do up front schematically.
2. Morgan Fox, Los Angeles Chargers
Fox’s versatility has helped him stick with both Los Angeles teams throughout his career. While he may not be the best run defender in the world, a coach like Eberflus may get some serious utility out of a player who could emerge as someone who plays the majority of snaps in Dallas.
The Cowboys are clearly not interested in paying a premium for someone who could replace him as a starter, so why not piecemeal a replacement together? Fox should have no trouble for a DC like Eberflus that will move him around frequently.
1. Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
There hasn’t been a bigger case of betting on traits in recent NFL Draft history, as Stewart has just 4.5 career sacks as a starting defensive end with a ton of snaps over a three-season span. Stewart did tally 39 pressures last season, showing that there is some disruption ability.
After some of Dallas’ recent free agency moves, Stewart has to be firmly in play at No. 12 overall. If the goal is replacing Lawrence with someone who can match his potential as a pass-rusher, Stewart’s almost unprecedented athletic ability for a player with his size could make him the top target for Jones and this front office.
