The Seattle Seahawks made a bunch of changes to the offense this offseason, but not much to the defense. General manager John Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald decided that the defense performed well enough in 2024 to bring nearly everyone back. Plus, add another veteran.
That is what Seattle did when signing edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence from the Dallas Cowboys. The deal is for three years and a maximum of $42 million, which seemed like a lot for a player who is already 33 years old. But the realities of the deal are more understandable.
His cap number in 2025 is only a bit over $7 million. There is no guaranteed money on the deal beyond this season. Should things not work out and the Seahawks release Lawrence next offseason, the team would save $7,066,666.
DeMarcus Lawrence is doing exactly what the Seattle Seahawks are paying him to do
Some pundits have written about Lawrence needing to be the missing piece for the Seahawks, but that was never the case. He was simply more icing on an otherwise great cake. Seattle already had young edge rushers Boye Mafe and Derick Hall, and veteran Uchenna Nwosu was expected to return from injury.
The hope was that Lawrence would stay healthier than he was in 2024 when he played in only four games, but he wasn't expected to get double-digit sacks. Instead, he simply needed to continue to play elite run defense and be part of an edge rush rotation that could supply quarterback pressure.
He was injured in Week 4, but it was a thigh issue instead of a knee or torn muscle. Lawrence could miss a game or so, but he shouldn't be out long-term.
Meanwhile, Lawrence's former team, the Cowboys, is struggling greatly on defense. Dallas traded All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons, and it misses him on the field, but the Cowboys miss Lawrence's ability to stop the run as well. Dallas is 20th in the league through four games, allowing 123.3 rushing yards per game.
Lawrence is currently fifth in the NFL in run-stop win rate. Throughout his career, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) has given the edge rusher at least very good run support grades in seven of his 12 seasons, and elite grades in two others. He isn't the player who would consistently get 45-plus quarterback pressures every season, but his versatility is perfect for Mike Macdonald's scheme.
How long DeMarcus Lawrence remains out with his thigh injury is not yet known, but it shouldn't be too long. When he does return, he will probably go right back to helping the Seattle Seahawks stuff the run, and he won't be overpaid when he does it.