Is this Dallas Cowboys defensive end a bust?

With multiple injuries and up and down performances, is it fair to consider this former second round selection of the Dallas Cowboys a draft bust?

When a team trades up in the draft to acquire you, you can expect a little time under the microscope. Have the honor to be one of the top 34 players selected in your draft class and the scrutiny intensifies. When you play for the Dallas Cowboys, all of this translates to immediate expectation.

Such is the life for Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence.

Drafted in the second round of the 2014 draft, Lawrence has had all of the above to deal with from day one. There is also the little issue of his first name coinciding with an all-time great leaving the team that same year.

It is fair to say that Lawrence has had quite a few things to deal with, other than just trying to be great himself.

Unfortunately, injuries and off the field issues have also made things difficult for Lawrence as well.

A right foot fracture early in his first training camp stunted his growth and kept him out until Week 9 of his rookie campaign. As one would expect, the injury put a major delay in his production. Due largely to that missed time, he finished the season without a sack.

The 2014 playoffs, however, gave fans a glimpse of the talent that the organization saw on draft day. Lawrence recorded two sacks, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in two games. One of those sacks effectively sealed the home win over the Detroit Lions.

One might think that would be a catalyst to a great 2015. Instead, Lawrence got off to a slow start, recording just one sack in his first eight games. The light came on in the second half, however, as Lawrence put up a streak of seven games with at least a sack.

Even though the Cowboys suffered a miserable year, Lawrence was a bright spot. He led the team with eight sacks and added 31 quarterback pressures, good enough for second.

One might think that would be a catalyst to a great 2016. Instead, Lawrence needed offseason back surgery, then doubled down on the disappointment with a four game suspension.

As a result, 2016 was essentially a throw away year. Lawrence appeared in just nine games, registering just one sack. Another tweak to his back forced him out of the final three regular season games plus the playoff loss. Another back surgery was performed this off season.

So, what will 2017 have in store for the former 34th overall selection? His progression may be one of the most difficult to forecast. Will he finally be 100% healthy or is two back surgeries in three years cause for concern?

Is Demarcus Lawrence the productive player we saw in the second half of 2015 or is he a bust?

It might be unfair to label him as a bust. If another mediocre year is in store for Lawrence, however, it will have been a waste of trade capital.

The Cowboys gave up the 47th pick in the draft as well as their third round pick (#78) to acquire Lawrence. The player chosen at 47, Trent Murphy, has six more sacks in his career and has played in 15 more games.

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In fact, every defensive player chosen between picks 46-50 has more sacks than Lawrence. Even if Dallas would not have drafted Murphy, Stephon Tuitt, Timmy Jernigan and Jeremiah Attaochu all would have been better options at this point.

There is also the matter of that lost draft pick. In the third round, with the 78th selection the Cowboys could have had guard Trai Turner or running back Devonta Freeman. Both have been multiple Pro-Bowl selections in their very short careers.

The Cowboys hope desperately that the foot and back injuries are the reason to blame for the underperforming 2014 and 2016 seasons.

More than that, they need to be a thing of the past for Lawrence’s career to continue in Dallas. Next year, he will be an unrestricted free agent. If he plays in less than eight games or posts less than three sacks, he won’t be back in 2018.

The Cowboys already seem to be preparing for the worst.

This year, their first round selection was a defensive end. Free agency saw the addition of another end in Damontre Moore. David Irving has been moved from the inside to the outside in an effort to improve the pass rush.

It’s on Lawrence to put a solid year together and make the Cowboys want him back in 2018. In a lot of ways, this could be the best scenario possible. When a player has a lot on the line, you usually see their absolute best effort.

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It would be nice if Lawrence’s body would cooperate so we can get a true evaluation. The clock is ticking on his career though. Hopefully both the Dallas Cowboys and DeMarcus Lawrence both prosper from this last chance situation.

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