Dallas Cowboys: Top 10 Offseason Trades in the 21st Century

7. Demarcus Lawrence draft trade (2014 NFL Draft)

Cowboys received

34th overall pick (Demarcus Lawrence)

Redskins received

47th overall pick (Trent Murphy)

78th overall pick (Spencer Long)

If you Google “worst defense in NFL history,” the 2013 Dallas Cowboys are bound to appear a few times. To make matters worse, the team had let go all-pro Demarcus Ware in the offseason. The team was in desperate need to bump up their defense.

After drafting offensive guard Zack Martin in the first round, the team’s focus went to defense. The Cowboys traded up to get the 34th pick from the Washington Redskins. Selected with the pick was Boise State defensive end Demarcus Lawrence.

Lawrence was set to become the dominant pass rusher that the Cowboys needed. His rookie year was rather unimpressive. He sat behind Jeremy Mincey for most of the season.

His duties were called upon in the 2014 wild-card game against the Detroit Lions, however. With the Lions threatening to make the game-winning score, Lawrence sacked Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and caused him to fumble. The Cowboys recovered and secured their first playoff win since 2009.

Lawrence would come into his own in 2015. He started 13 games and registered 8 sacks.

2016 was another off year for Lawrence. After a suspension sidelined him for four games, he was only able to manage one sack.

The Cowboys soon found a new sack leader in Lawrence in 2017. He totaled 14.5 sacks on the season and proved his talents well.

He received the franchise tag in 2018 and hopefully will put on another solid year.