Many people believe that Dallas Cowboys’ defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence didn’t exactly justify the five-year, $105 million extension he received prior to the 2019 NFL season. And while Lawrence doesn’t think this was the case, he is determined to perform better in 2020.
Lawrence finished 2019 with 45 tackles and 5.0 sacks, his lowest tally since 2016. In a recent interview with FOX Sports One, the 28-year-old said that he believes these numbers don’t reflect his contributions on the field.
“Nothing happened to me last year,” said Lawrence. “I know I ended the season with five sacks, but I also helped other players boost their numbers back up to double digits. It’s not a one-man game, and I know how to play the game the right way. I know how to make plays when plays come my way. And I also know how to make sure my teammates are making their plays.”
However, Lawrence still intends to up his statistics this season.
“You don’t have to worry about nothing. Trust me, the sack number will be back up,” he added.
After a Pro Bowl season in 2017, in which he had 14.5 sacks, DeMarcus Lawrence was set to hit the free market after not being able to agree on a contract extension with Cowboys. The club ended up placing a franchise tag on him, keeping him with the organization for one additional season.
Playing under the tag, Lawrence put up another Pro Bowl season with 10.5 sacks, and convinced Cowboys he deserves the money. He ended up becoming the NFL’s highest-paid defensive end with $21 million annual salary and $65 million guaranteed.
