Buccaneers 2018 Free Agency Spotlight: Defensive End, Demarcus Lawrence

The latest stop on our free-agency spotlight tour is this year’s top available free-agent pass rusher, Demarcus Lawrence. Let’s take a closer look.

If you gave the Buccaneers front office, coaching staff, and every member of their fan base the power to pick one free-agent for the team this off-season, their answer would almost unanimously be, “Demarcus Lawrence”.

The 25 year old pass rusher, most recently of the Cowboys is a rare elite pass rushing free-agent and if he’s not franchise tagged you can expect the Buccaneers to be in hot pursuit.

Demarcus Lawrence’s Career

Lawrence has played four seasons for the Cowboys, who drafted him in the second round out of Boise State.

In two of those four seasons he was productive, tallying eight sacks in 2015 and fourteen-and-a-half last season. In the other two he was quiet, combining for just one sack.

Those two down years weren’t for poor play on the field, because he wasn’t on it much at all during that time. In September of his rookie year Lawrence was placed on injured reserve, and in 2016 he was suspended four games for violating the substance abuse policy.

The 6’3″, 250 lb Lawrence was a force to be reckoned with in his contract year, forcing four fumbles and racking up a career-tying thirty five tackles.

For that reason it’s likely that the Cowboys will resort to the franchise tag if they can’t come to a long-term agreement with him.

Why the Buccaneers Need Him

The Buccaneers were dead last in sacks last season with just 22, and have one of the least talented defensive lines in all of football. Noah Spence is their only youthful end with any hope of talent and Gerald McCoy is the only established high level player. The team needs a massive influx of talent, and landing a young talent like Lawrence is the most ideal scenario imaginable.

More from The Pewter Plank

• Devin White posts cryptic message to Lavonte David on Twitter
• ESPN predicts surprising outcome to Devin White trade saga
• Updated Buccaneers depth chart after signing two players from rookie minicamp
• Todd Bowles sends clear message about Baker Mayfield’s role with Bucs
• The Athletic is wrong about Bucs one ‘must-watch’ game in 2023

Lawrence would give the Buccaneers a dominant force on the left side of their line and an exciting combo to pair with Noah Spence for the foreseeable future. With the NFL draft being light on pass rushers this year, the Bucs need to locate an established veteran through free agency.

The problem is, most talented veteran pass rushers are locked up by their teams long in advance of their contract expiring, and those that do hit the market like Lawrence are prime candidates for the franchise tag. The Buccaneers need Lawrence arguably more than any other team in the league, but it won’t be easy.

What Will Lawrence Cost?

Quite a bit. If the Cowboys choose not to franchise tag Lawrence he’ll receive a substantial amount of money in free agency.

Spotrac projects Lawrence’s market value at five years and $70 million dollars, which would be top five defensive end money.

If you want a 25 year old defensive end entering his prime, you’re going to have to pay up the big bucks, which means nearly fifteen million dollars per season.

The Buccaneers have loads of cap space and will be looking for a suitable defensive end to shell it out on – Lawrence is as suitable as they come.

Will it Happen?

It seems unlikely. The Cowboys by all indications plan on franchise tagging Lawrence if they can’t lock him down on a long term deal, so the Buccaneers may never get a shot.

There’s perhaps a road to trading for Lawrence once he’s franchise tagged, but it would cost quite a bit of draft capital that the Bucs may not be willing to part with.

In the event that negotiations break down between Lawrence and the Cowboys and the team opts not to franchise tag him, I’d expect the Buccaneers to be among the fiercest pursuers.

Next: Bucs Good to Pass on Peters

What do you think about Demarcus Lawrence, Buccaneer fans? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to check back tomorrow for a spotlight on free agent running back Jerrick McKinnon.

"Was passing on Marcus Peters a good move? James and David discuss it on Locked on Bucs!"