3 Aging Cowboys Veterans Who Should Be Replaced in the NFL Draft

2. DeMarcus Lawrence, EDGE

In the 2014 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys knocked it out of the park in Round 1 and Round 2.

Jerry Jones nearly ruined it all with his strange obsession with Johnny Manziel but the rest of the war room convinced him Zack Martin was the right pick. Entering 2024, Martin is still going strong and is one of the best guards in the league.

As good as that selection was, Dallas did just as well in Round 2. They were criticized when they decided to send picks No. 47 and 78 to Washington for the 34th selection. That was used to bring in Boise State edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence.

The move panned out for the Cowboys as Lawrence is entering year 11 and has 436 tackles and 58.5 career sacks. He’s capable of disrupting the pass with his rush and is one of the better defensive ends when it comes to run defense. The only concern with Lawrence is his age.

Lawrence will turn 31 during draft weekend and while he’s shown no signs of slowing down, it would be a good idea to add a player capable of filling his shoes one day. They hope Sam Williams can contribute more but he’s a pass-rusher first. Dallas needs someone who can do the dirty work on early downs the way Lawrence does.