The Dallas Cowboys accomplished their utmost offseason priority in early April, when star pass-rusher DeMarcus Lawrence signed a five-year, $105 million deal to remain with the team for the foreseeable future. Obviously, the Cowboys are expecting Lawrence to continue establishing himself as one of the most impactful defenders in the NFL. ESPN, though, in its projections for Dallas' defensive end, paints a more modest portrayal of his expected performance in 2019.

The worldwide leader projects Lawrence to finish the upcoming season with 61 tackles, eight sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one pass defensed. Notably, those numbers pale in comparison to statistics he put up in each of the past two seasons, when the 25-year-old developed into a force on the edge for Dallas.

Lawrence had 10.5 sacks last season, leading his team by a significant margin, and also contributed a career-high 64 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 23 quarterback hits, and two forced fumbles. He was arguably even better one year prior, breaking out in 2017 with 14 and-a-half sacks, 58 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 26 quarterback hits, and four forced fumbles, en route to his first of consecutive Pro Bowl appearances.

Dallas used the franchise tag on Lawrence earlier this offseason, forcing the star pass-rusher’s hand into playing the 2019 season on a one-year deal worth $20.5 million lest the sides reach an agreement on a new contract. After also playing last season on the franchise tag, though, Lawrence publicly expressed dismay at the prospect of doing so for a second consecutive season rather than signing a deal that would ensure his financial security for years to come.

Retaining Lawrence took on added importance for the Cowboys in the offseason due to the status of defensive end Randy Gregory, who was suspended indefinitely in February for another violation of the league’s substance abuse policy.