The Dallas Cowboys once had a pass rush that could go toe-to-toe with anyone in the league - anchored by the relentless Micah Parsons and the ever-savvy DeMarcus Lawrence. But that era is over.
Parsons is now a Packer. Lawrence?
He’s about to play in Super Bowl LX as a Seattle Seahawk, and he’s still making life miserable for opposing offenses.
Lawrence’s impact in Seattle wasn’t just noticeable - it was immediate. Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed didn’t mince words when asked about his new teammate during Super Bowl Opening Night.
"That's a player I think we were missing," Reed said. "A guy who can rush on the edge, rush on the inside, play the run, create turnovers... when he came, that was great for us. When we got him, we knew we got a special player."
And Reed’s not wrong. At 33 years old, Lawrence just earned his fifth Pro Bowl nod.
He’s not lighting up the stat sheet with sacks, but he’s doing something arguably more important - anchoring the edge and shutting down the run. According to PFF, he was the top run-stopping edge rusher in the NFL this season.
That’s not just impressive - that’s elite.
What makes Lawrence so valuable in Seattle’s system is how he complements the rest of the defense. With him sealing the edge and forcing runs back inside, it frees up the Seahawks’ speed rushers and defensive backs to attack from all angles.
It’s a perfect fit for Mike Macdonald’s aggressive, blitz-heavy scheme. Lawrence doesn’t just play within the system - he elevates it.
Meanwhile, back in Dallas, the front office is left with a glaring hole. Losing both Parsons and Lawrence in the same offseason has taken a once-feared pass rush and left it scrambling for answers.
The Cowboys now face a tough offseason decision: do they spend their limited cap space on a veteran edge rusher, or do they use one of their two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft to find the next foundational piece? Either way, they need someone who can not only replace Lawrence’s production but also thrive alongside emerging talent like Donovan Ezeiruaku.
And for Cowboys fans, this one stings. Lawrence gave Dallas nearly a decade of high-level play.
He was a leader, a tone-setter, and a fan favorite. Watching him now - not just chasing a ring, but playing a pivotal role in a Super Bowl defense - has to feel like salt in the wound.
It’s not just that he’s gone. It’s that he’s thriving somewhere else.
The Patriots’ offensive line has had its shaky moments this season, and Lawrence is the kind of veteran who knows how to exploit those cracks. If he helps deliver a title to Seattle, it’ll be a crowning achievement in a career that’s been defined by toughness, consistency, and doing the dirty work that doesn’t always show up on highlight reels - but wins football games.
For Seattle, Lawrence has been the missing piece. For Dallas, he’s the one that got away.